By Ademu Idakwo, Helen Onyemowo Foster, Abuja
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Labour Party yesterday told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to build a system that guarantees credible election outcomes, following concerns that artificial intelligence could be used to spread misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The parties stated this in reaction to INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan’s, recent warning that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence had created new challenges for election management, particularly because manipulated audio, video and images could be generated and circulated to a large audience with increasing speed and sophistication.
The INEC chairman had stressed the need for greater public awareness and vigilance against the misuse of technology to distort information about elections.
But INEC, yesterday, clarified that it lacks the power to punish individuals who deliberately spread false information about the electoral process, saying offenders could instead face relevant law enforcement agencies under existing cybercrime laws.
The commission, however, said its responsibility was to provide accurate information and intensify public enlightenment to prevent misinformation from undermining confidence in the 2027 general elections.
Parties React to AI Fears
APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stressed that INEC must ensure that any information it gives out is accurate and not easily susceptible to manipulation.
Ibrahim, in an interview with LEADERSHIP Friday, noted that as much as AI has attained global attention and acceptance, it has also become a tool for mischief.
He, however, added: “There can be mischief, but it is now left for whoever is dishing out information or whoever is doing something that is vulnerable to manipulation by AI to be very factual and make sure he does everything that needs to be done to defend the integrity and quality of the material he or she is dishing out.
“Mischief can be in any way, in any form and from anywhere, just like misinformation and hate speeches that systems are fighting against. The same thing can be a subject of manipulation by AI.
“So I feel the challenge is more on INEC to make sure that everything it is giving out carries the tag of integrity, carries the tag of correctness and is not something that can easily be manipulated. It is left for the viewers, listeners or whoever is responsible for looking at the material to be able to differentiate between what is genuine and what is fake.
“I think that that fear is misplaced. I don’t think simply because of AI they will say, except if they are planning to do something mischievous that is capable of being manipulated. But if they are conscious and they are quite factual in what they give, they have no worry, they have no reason to worry about what AI will do to manipulate or change the authenticity of what they give out. The quality of what they issue is what will be decided by the public.”
On its part, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said the alarm raised by INEC over possible AI-driven disinformation in the 2027 election is nothing for Nigerians to worry about.
In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, expressed confidence that the Electoral Management Body has adequate human and material resources to checkmate and counter possible digital breaches.
Aiyenigba said INEC must live up to its mandate of delivering credible elections, adding that the commission has sufficient funds to put structures in place to safeguard the integrity of its operations. “Nigerians expect nothing less,” he said.
He, however, said the SDP is currently conducting nationwide training for sub-national officials, which will equip its members and gatekeepers with practical digital literacy skills.
“The programme is designed to build capacity in all aspects of the electoral process and enhance the party’s election management,” he stated.
He stressed that the training will enable them to identify misinformation and biased media content, positively influence digital communications and promote ethical online information.
