The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the misuse of generative artificial intelligence to manipulate audio, video and images poses an immediate threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s elections ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The Commission said the danger extends beyond fabricated content, with AI also making it easier to produce highly targeted messages capable of feeding conflicting narratives to different groups of voters.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mal. Mohammed Kudu Haruna, raised the alarm on Monday, September 21, 2026, in Abuja, while declaring open a capacity building workshop for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) drawn from across the states.
Haruna said generative AI had made it “cheaper and considerably harder to detect manipulated audio, video and images,” warning that its misuse could undermine the information environment in which voters make electoral decisions.
He said the threat was no longer theoretical, stressing that the credibility of elections now depended not only on ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets but also on the reliability of information reaching voters.
According to him, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, recently made a similar point at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, where he argued that electoral technology and electoral communication should be treated as “a single discipline.”
Haruna said the workshop, themed, “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” was designed in response to the growing challenge.
He described PAOs as “the frontline communicators of INEC in the states,” saying the credibility of the Commission’s communication “in many respects, begins with the work you do.”
He said participants would receive practical training in verification, escalation procedures and clear, consistent messaging, adding that the skills would be tested in real time as the 2027 elections draw closer.
The National Commissioner commended the Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) Department for developing what he described as a practical, skills-based programme tailored to the realities faced by communication officers at the state level.
In her welcome remarks, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said PAOs played a critical role in shaping public perceptions of the Commission.
“It is through you that Nigerians form much of their impression of who we are, what we stand for, and how reliable our information is,” she said.
Eta-Messi said INEC operated under constant public scrutiny and regularly faced attempts to misrepresent its activities and undermine public confidence.
She disclosed that the workshop was not a one off intervention, revealing that further capacity building programmes were at an advanced stage of planning with support from development partners.
According to her, the training marked “the beginning of sustained engagement” to ensure PAOs were adequately prepared for their responsibilities ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Information and Publicity, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the training was designed to strengthen the practical communication skills required by PAOs in their daily work and in the build up to the 2027 General Elections.
He said the objectives included clarifying escalation lines among PAOs, Heads of Department, the Voter Education and Publicity Department and Resident Electoral Commissioners; improving consistency in press statements, talking points and social media communication; and strengthening the ability of officers to monitor the information ecosystem and respond to misinformation and disinformation.
The workshop will also address the responsible use of artificial intelligence in communication, including its practical applications and limitations, as well as safeguards relating to confidentiality and verification.
Ifogah said participants were expected to leave the training with a shared understanding of the standards of accuracy, consistency and professionalism expected of every INEC Public Affairs Officer, particularly as the Commission prepares for the 2027 General Elections.
