2027: AI misuse no longer a distant risk – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating and spreading manipulated content is no longer a distant risk to the 2027 general elections. This warning comes as the growing accessibility of generative AI has made it easier and cheaper to fabricate audio, videos and images, raising concerns about the potential impact on voters and electoral credibility.

At a capacity-building workshop for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) from across the states, INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, highlighted the threat posed by AI. Mohammed Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized the need to treat electoral technology and communication as interconnected aspects of election management, noting that AI could be used to produce targeted messages designed to feed conflicting narratives to different groups of voters.

Haruna pointed out that the INEC Chairman recently stated that electoral credibility now depends on the information environment in which voters form their judgments, moving beyond ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, and result sheets. He called for the treatment of electoral technology and communication as a single discipline, rather than separate concerns.

The workshop, themed "Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027," aims to equip INEC's public affairs officers with the skills required to respond to emerging information challenges. The officers, described as the frontline communicators of INEC in the states, will receive training in verification, escalation, clear messaging, and responsible use of AI in communication work.

The training is expected to strengthen consistency in communication and build participants' capacity to monitor the information ecosystem, respond to misinformation and disinformation, and adhere to the standards of accuracy, consistency, and professionalism required of INEC's public affairs officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.