• CUPP says electoral fraud undermining democracy
• Group warns electoral violence. threatens Nigeria’s reputation, erodes investor confidence 

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared that artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections.

He insisted that the power to choose Nigeria’s leaders rests solely with the electorate.

But National Chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, criticised Nigeria’s electoral process since the return to civilian rule in 1999, arguing that persistent allegations of electoral manipulation undermined democratic legitimacy, weakened accountability and shut poor Nigerians out of political participation.

Similarly, Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) has warned that electoral violence, intimidation and disregard for democratic institutions could undermine Nigeria’s reputation, calling on political leaders and parties to prioritise national stability, peace and the rule of law ahead of the coming general elections.

Amupitan added that the commission was exploring the use AI to overcome difficult terrain and improve the deployment of personnel and election materials ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He, however, warned that AI-generated disinformation, deepfake videos, cloned audio recordings and other forms of digital manipulation could undermine public trust, influence voter behaviour and threaten electoral integrity, if not properly addressed ahead of the polls.

The INEC chairman spoke yesterday in Abuja at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026, with theme, ‘Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’.

The forum was organised by Yiaga Africa, in partnership with INEC, Microsoft, TikTok, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Dataphyte, MacArthur Foundation, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and other partners.

Amupitan said the growing influence of AI on political communication and public perception required urgent collaboration among election administrators, political parties, technology companies, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media to protect the electoral process.

“Will algorithms decide the 2027 votes?” he asked. “I consider our gathering here today not merely as an academic exercise or a routine policy consultation. This is a strategic imperative. No, algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 vote. The 2027 vote must be decided by the sovereign people of Nigeria.”

According to him, technology must remain an instrument for strengthening democracy rather than a force that determines electoral choices or compromises the credibility of elections.

He called for greater transparency in political advertising, including clear disclaimers on political advertisements and restrictions on algorithmic targeting based on sensitive characteristics such as ethnicity, religion and local origin.

The chairman proposed the expansion of an Electoral Information Integrity Coalition, involving INEC, civil society organisations, the media, fact-checkers, and telecommunications operators, to identify, verify, and counter viral falsehoods in real time.

Speaking earlier, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said rebuilding public confidence would be one of the major challenges ahead of the 2027 elections.

AMEH, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Kogi East in the 2027 general elections, said the credibility of elections remained fundamental to producing leaders who would be genuinely accountable to the electorate.

In a statement, he argued that when electoral outcomes fail to reflect voters’ will, the relationship between elected officials and citizens weakens, creating conditions in which public officeholders may become less responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.

He maintained that Nigeria’s search for effective and accountable leadership could not be separated from efforts to address electoral malpractice and strengthen the integrity of the voting process.

According to him, the credibility of elections determines not only how leaders emerge but also the extent to which they feel obligated to fulfil their promises and respond to the electorate’s demands.

The CUPP chairman alleged that Nigeria’s electoral history had been characterised by instances in which candidates who believed they had won were denied their mandates, while declared winners faced questions about the credibility of their victories.

He said such controversies contributed to public distrust in democratic institutions and raised concerns about the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

NRMG said the conduct of the elections would influence Nigeria’s standing at home and abroad, stressing that a credible, peaceful and orderly electoral process would demonstrate the maturity of the country’s democracy and strengthen its international reputation.

The group, in a statement by its chairman, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, marking Nigeria Reputation Day 2026, asserted that political competition must not come at the expense of human lives, national unityor democratic values.

It urged political leaders and parties to respect democratic institutions, uphold the rule of law and place the national interest above personal ambition, warning that electoral violence, intimidation, hate-driven conduct and other anti-democratic tendencies must be rejected.

According to the group, bridging the gap between Nigeria’s potential and actual performance requires more than image-building campaigns, and it insists that credible leadership, accountable institutions, ethical business practices, and responsible citizenship are essential to building a reputation that commands confidence.

It said Nigeria’s reputation should be shaped by the values its citizens uphold, the choices they make and the realities they create, rather than by external perceptions alone.