{
  "id": 14467997,
  "title": "Nigerians, not algorithms, will decide 2027 polls — INEC chairman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/nigerians-not-algorithms-will-decide-2027-polls-inec-chairman-14467997",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T14:26:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/nigerians-not-algorithms-will-decide-2027-polls-inec-chairman/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has affirmed that the decisions of voters will determine the 2027 general elections, and not algorithms. Speaking at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, Amupitan emphasized that algorithms could not dictate the outcome of the polls and must remain subordinate to human judgment and democratic institutions. While acknowledging that AI would significantly impact the electoral environment by influencing information dissemination, logistics, and the activities of various stakeholders, Amupitan stressed that critical electoral decisions, result collation, voter accreditation, and candidate qualification would never be automated or delegated to autonomous systems. He highlighted potential benefits of AI, including improving logistics and route planning, assisting in auditing election results, enhancing biometric database management, facilitating voter engagement, and strengthening cybersecurity. However, Amupitan identified several threats to the integrity of the 2027 elections, such as generative AI, deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and automated cyberattacks. He called for the development of an Electoral Information Integrity Coalition involving various stakeholders to serve as an early-warning network against the spread of AI-generated falsehoods capable of undermining the electoral process.",
  "summary": "The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, stated at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja that algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the forum, which focused on safeguarding elections in the age of artificial intelligence, Amupitan insisted that the decision regarding who governs Nigeria rests exclusively with the Nigerian people. He noted that while algorithms may predict patterns or optimize routes, they lack a conscience and a vote.\n\nAccording to Punch, Amupitan warned that although artificial intelligence could influence electoral administration and the information available to voters, the technology must remain subordinate to democratic institutions and human judgment. Daily Post Nigeria reported that the commission intends to maintain human oversight over candidate qualification, voter accreditation, and the collation of results rather than relying entirely on automated systems.\n\nDaily Post Nigeria also noted that INEC has completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones required under the Electoral Act 2026. Additionally, the commission has introduced digitized candidate nominations and online voter registration.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "2027: Algorithms must never decide election outcome – INEC chair Amupitan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/2027-algorithms-must-never-decide-election-outcome-inec-chair-amupitan",
        "published": "2026-10-14T13:08:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Nigerians, not algorithms, will decide 2027 polls — INEC chairman",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/nigerians-not-algorithms-will-decide-2027-polls-inec-chairman",
        "published": "2026-10-14T14:22:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}