The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have adopted guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in electoral processes.
The move aims to strengthen electoral integrity and prepare West African democracies for the growing influence of emerging technologies ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The guidelines were validated during a two-day meeting in Nigeria attended by electoral officials and information technology experts from across the sub-region.
While speaking during the visit, the ECONEC permanent secretary said the guidelines had been developed and adopted after a series of working sessions and a validation meeting that began on Monday and ended on Tuesday.
He said the engagement with INEC was aimed at sharing practical experiences and exploring how electoral management bodies across the West African sub-region could implement the guidelines.
“AI is here to stay anyway. There’s no way we can do away with AI anymore. It’s here and it’s going to stay. How we are going to manage it, that’s what we are thinking about,” he said.
The permanent secretary noted that Nigeria already had a unit working on AI, adding that collaboration with INEC would provide an opportunity for electoral commissions to learn from one another as they integrate the technology into their operations.
He said the delegation included IT experts because of the technical issues involved in the application of AI to electoral processes.
Responding, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, described the visit as timely and significant, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
He said electoral management bodies in West Africa faced similar challenges, making regional cooperation important for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences and developing common approaches to improving election administration.
Amupitan identified electoral technology, result management, voter education, electoral security and dispute resolution as some of the critical areas requiring cooperation among election management bodies.
He said INEC was committed to strengthening electoral administration through continuous learning and institutional reforms, adding that the experiences of other countries could provide useful lessons for Nigeria.
He said preparations for the elections required attention to every stage of the electoral process, from planning and voter registration to result management.
Amupitan also highlighted the potential role of technology in improving electoral processes, including voter registration, while stressing the need to strengthen risk assessment, personnel training and election planning.
He listed other areas for improvement as media engagement, tackling misinformation, electoral security and promoting inclusive participation in elections.
The INEC chairman further emphasised the importance of institutionalising post-election reviews and implementing recommendations from stakeholders to reduce disputes and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
He said transparency, institutional integrity and sustained commitment to electoral reforms remained essential to strengthening democracy.
The delegation included representatives of electoral management bodies from several African countries, including Senegal, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Kenya and Uganda, as well as officials of ECOWAS.
