Algorithms won’t decide 2027 elections, says INEC chair

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, has assured that algorithms will not decide the outcome of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. Speaking at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026, Amupitan emphasized that the decision on who governs Nigeria rests solely with the voters.

He warned that while artificial intelligence could influence electoral administration and the information available to voters, it must remain subordinate to human judgment and democratic institutions. The INEC chairman acknowledged that AI would significantly shape the electoral environment, influencing information circulation, election logistics, and the activities of those seeking to manipulate the process.

However, he stressed that critical electoral decisions, such as result collation, voter accreditation, and candidate nominations, would not be delegated to automated systems.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.