{
  "id": 14578665,
  "title": "Algorithms won’t decide 2027 elections, says INEC chair",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/algorithms-wont-decide-2027-elections-says-inec-chair",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T01:20:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/algorithms-wont-decide-2027-elections-says-inec-chair/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, has stated that algorithms will not influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, Amupitan emphasized that the choice of who leads Nigeria is solely up to the Nigerian people. While AI can impact electoral administration and the information available to voters, it must be subordinate to human judgment and democratic institutions. Amupitan warned that algorithms do not possess consciousness, a country, or the ability to vote. He acknowledged that AI would significantly shape the information environment, influencing how citizens form their choices and the tactics of both democratic actors and anti-democratic disruptors. The forum, co-convened by INEC and Yiaga Africa, brought together various stakeholders to discuss the impact of AI on the electoral process. Amupitan highlighted the 2027 elections as the largest democratic exercise on the African continent, with over 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in 774 local government areas. INEC has completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones outlined in the Electoral Act 2026, including procuring additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, digitising candidate nominations, and processing more than 15,000 nominations. The chairman identified several threats to the credibility of the 2027 elections, including generative AI, deepfakes, targeted political advertising, algorithmic bias, and automated cyberattacks. He urged political parties, civil society organizations, media executives, security agencies, and technology companies to adopt ethical guidelines and strengthen their capacity to combat these threats.",
  "summary": "INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, says algorithms will not decide the 2027 general elections, insisting the choice of leaders rests with Nigerian voters. Read More: https://punchng.com/algorithms-wont-decide-2027-elections-says-inec-chair/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Algorithms won’t decide 2027 elections, says INEC chair",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/algorithms-wont-decide-2027-elections-says-inec-chair",
        "published": "2026-10-14T23:38:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "INEC sensitises Ondo PWDs, reaffirms commitment to inclusive elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/inec-sensitises-ondo-pwds-reaffirms-commitment-to-inclusive-elections",
        "published": "2026-10-15T05:26:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}