Get Guardian on Google• Amupitan flags fabricated results, deepfakes, risk of electoral violence
• Jega urges INEC to deploy AI-powered chatbots for voter information
• HURIWA seeks joint security task force over political attacks
• IPAC demands functional voting equipment, peaceful campaigns
• Media stakeholders seek stronger protection for election reporters
The European Union (EU) has warned against exploiting concerns over artificial intelligence (AI)-generated misinformation to suppress political dissent, silence journalists or restrict freedom of expression ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) raised concerns over deepfakes, fabricated election results and digital manipulation capable of triggering violence.
The warnings came amid growing concerns over political attacks, intimidation of campaign teams and the safety of journalists covering the elections.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, gave the warning yesterday at the National Summit on Electoral Information Integrity, organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) and DAI under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme in Abuja.
The two-day summit was themed Beyond the Ballot: AI, FIMI and the Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections.
Mignot said that while AI could support translation, accessibility and communication, it could also make deception easier to produce and more difficult to recognise.
According to him, the challenge went beyond detecting deepfakes to building an electoral information environment where reliable information was available, institutions communicated credibly, independent journalism thrived and manipulation met a prepared response.
He stressed: “The legitimate threat of AI manipulation must never become a pretext for state overreach, digital censorship or suppression of political dissent.
“A citizen questioning an institution is not necessarily spreading misinformation. A journalist reporting a failure is performing a democratic function,” he said.
He called on stakeholders to establish clear response mechanisms before the 2027 elections, noting that election day would be too late to determine responsibilities, verification channels and communication procedures.
He identified three priorities for Nigeria ahead of the elections: preparing before electoral pressure intensifies, making stakeholder partnerships operational and protecting democratic rights while safeguarding electoral information.
Speaking at the summit, former INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, urged the commission to consider deploying AI-powered chatbots to provide voters with accurate electoral information and counter misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Jega, who chaired the summit, said the technology could enable citizens seeking electoral information to obtain official responses quickly and verify the authenticity of information circulating in the public space.
He disclosed that the recommendation followed discussions at the 2024 Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, where participants examined ways election management bodies, particularly in Africa, could deploy chatbots to reduce the impact of misinformation and disinformation.
He urged INEC to consider the proposal if it had yet to adopt such a system, saying the positive applications of AI could complement efforts to protect electoral information integrity.
INEC flags deepfakes, fabricated results, violence
EARLIER, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, warned that AI could be exploited to circulate fake election results, forged operational directives and fabricated information capable of triggering confusion and violence during the 2027 general elections.
He said synthetic audio and manipulated documents could falsely announce election results or claim that polls had been cancelled in key constituencies, potentially undermining public confidence and disrupting the collation process.
Amupitan said the growing accessibility of generative AI tools had made it possible for individuals and organised groups to produce convincing fake audio, videos and other content capable of misleading voters.
He warned that fabricated results could circulate on social media before INEC made official announcements, potentially triggering public unrest and violence.
“Today, elections can be undermined long before the first ballot is cast,” he said.
The INEC chairman identified synthetic media, automated misinformation and disinformation, deepfakes, digital micro-targeting and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) as emerging threats that could compromise the credibility of the elections.
He cited the possibility of AI-generated audio impersonating senior political figures to make false claims about vote-buying or electoral manipulation, as well as fabricated videos of electoral officials announcing decisions they never made.
He also warned that manipulated audio and video could be deliberately released during result collation and announcement to create confusion and provoke reactions before the commission communicated verified information.
Amupitan said the increasing sophistication of AI tools had lowered the cost of carrying out such operations. He, however, disclosed that INEC had established an AI unit to anticipate risks associated with emerging technologies and develop measures to protect its electoral processes.
He acknowledged that AI could assist election management bodies with voter register analysis, logistics planning, data processing and administrative efficiency, stressing that the danger depended on how the technology was deployed.
He further disclosed that the commission had signed a memorandum of understanding with TikTok and was seeking improved cooperation with Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram and X.
According to him, INEC had also introduced ChatGPT to support its efforts and was working with development partners, including the EU, to establish a strategic communication crisis network.
He said the commission was strengthening its technological capacity and communication systems to detect deepfakes, verify suspicious media and issue authoritative clarifications.
Amupitan cautioned against relying solely on fact-checking after false information had gone viral, noting that manipulated content could spread widely within 30 minutes.
He called for coordinated responses involving the commission, security agencies, media organisations, technology companies and fact-checking groups.
HURIWA seeks task force over political attacks
MEANWHILE, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned reported attacks on political supporters and campaign teams across the country, warning that growing political violence and alleged sponsorship of armed thugs threaten democratic participation and electoral stability.
The association condemned the reported attack on Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) members during a ward meeting in Obuofia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, which reportedly left several members injured.
It also condemned the reported assault on APC supporters travelling to Funtua for the flag-off of Governor Dikko Radda’s re-election campaign in Katsina State. Suspected hoodlums allegedly hurled stones and other objects at vehicles conveying the supporters in Malumfashi Local Government Area, shattering windscreens and windows and leaving some people with minor injuries.
HURIWA equally condemned the disruption of Abia State Governor Alex Otti’s re-election campaign inauguration at Umuahia Township Stadium, where competing political groups reportedly caused disorder during the proceedings, including a church service.
The association also condemned the reported assault on human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Sowore alleged that a mobile phone stolen during the attack had been traced to the Ekiti State Governor’s Lodge.
HURIWA maintained that political meetings and peaceful association were fundamental rights that security agencies must protect, irrespective of party affiliation.
It called on the National Security Adviser to establish a joint security task force comprising professional, patriotic and non-partisan personnel to protect political parties, candidates, campaign officials, supporters and other participants in the electoral process.
The association also urged the police, Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies to establish a coordinated security framework for campaign rallies, ward meetings, campaign tours and other political engagements.
It warned political parties and their supporters against turning campaign grounds into arenas of violence, intimidation and disorder, insisting that every Nigerian must be able to participate in politics without fear of assault or death.
IPAC demands functional voting equipment
IN a related development, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Lagos State, has urged INEC to upgrade its voting equipment and ensure that all electoral machines and technological facilities are fully functional ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Lagos State chairman of IPAC, Temilola Akinade, appealed in an interview yesterday, expressing concern that technical challenges could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming polls.
“We do not want any disappointment from INEC, particularly in the area of the voting system, during the 2027 general elections.
“All electoral equipment must be properly tested, upgraded where necessary and maintained to guarantee a smooth and seamless voting process,” she said.
Akinade commended INEC for its efforts so far but urged the commission to intensify preparations to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
She also called on federal and state governments to provide a level playing field for all political parties to campaign freely and promote their candidates without intimidation or unnecessary restrictions.
The IPAC chairman urged political parties to educate their supporters on peaceful campaigns, mutual respect and tolerance of opposing political views.
She stressed the need for candidates and their supporters to prioritise issue-based engagements rather than resort to violence or personal attacks.
Media stakeholders seek stronger protection for journalists
ALSO, media professionals and the police have called for stronger measures to protect journalists covering the 2027 elections, amid concerns over attacks and impunity against media practitioners.
The call was made at a symposium organised by the Media Centre for Promotion of Safety Awareness in Lagos, themed Election Safety: Reporting Without Being a Casualty, to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
Guest speaker, Ugo Onuoha, said impunity persisted because some individuals benefited from attacks on journalists targeted for reporting the truth about government and private sector activities.
He urged media organisations to train reporters, provide safety equipment, maintain contact with security agencies to identify flashpoints and ensure that journalists were adequately prepared before deployment.
Onuoha stressed the importance of self-preservation, advising journalists to avoid travelling alone to volatile events, wear comfortable clothing and adopt digital safety measures, including backing up files, removing sensitive data, using encrypted communication channels and PIN locks.
He also urged media practitioners to monitor their physical and psychological well-being.
At a panel session, a police representative, ASP Muhammed, described security agencies as partners in progress, urging journalists to familiarise themselves with their operational environments, maintain neutrality and move closer to security personnel when tension arose.
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos Command, Adeola Olufemi, said the police had maintained partnerships with the media and urged journalists to remain observant and heed operational advice.
A former chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Adeola Ekhine, also advised journalists to remain alert, saying: “Listen up, look around and be sure of your safety.”
Other panellists emphasised the importance of safety kits, comfortable clothing and first-aid kits for high-risk assignments.
The convener, Chinyere Amaechi, recalled incidents of harassment of journalists during the 2023 elections, alleging that no arrests were made, and described the situation as impunity.
