Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, don talk say computer calculations and programmes no go decide who go win Nigeria 2027 general election, as na Nigerians get the power to choose who go lead dem.
Amupitan talk this on Wednesday for Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 wey hold for Abuja. The meeting focus on how to protect the 2027 general election as people dey use computer technology wey fit think and produce information.
E warn say even though this kind technology fit affect how election take happen and the kind information wey voters dey see, e no suppose replace human judgement or the democratic system wey Nigeria dey use.
“Computer programmes no go decide the 2027 election, and dem must never decide am,” Amupitan talk. E add say na Nigerians alone get the right to choose who go lead the country.
According to am, computer programmes fit predict wetin fit happen, arrange better routes and even suggest choices, but dem no get conscience, dem no belong to any country, and dem no get vote.
However, the INEC chairman admit say this new computer technology go affect the election environment in many ways. E explain say e fit influence how information dey spread, how election materials reach different places and the methods wey people fit use to try manipulate the election.
The meeting, wey INEC organise together with Yiaga Africa, bring together election officials, political party leaders, civil society groups, media organisations, security agencies, technology companies and international development partners.
Amupitan describe the 2027 election as the biggest democratic exercise for Africa. E say INEC go conduct the election for more than 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in 774 local government areas.
The election go involve voting for President, members of National Assembly, governors and members of state Houses of Assembly.
The INEC chairman reveal say the commission don complete 10 out of the 14 major steps wey dem plan to take under the Electoral Act 2026.
E add say INEC don buy more devices wey dem dey use check voters’ identity through fingerprint and face recognition. The commission don also move candidates’ nomination process online through the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal and process more than 15,000 nominations from 22 political parties.
Amupitan also mention online voter registration as one of the ways wey INEC dey use improve how dem dey organise elections.
E explain say this new computer technology fit help the commission plan how to move election materials, check election results, manage voters’ information, communicate with voters in different languages and strengthen protection against internet attacks.
But e insist say INEC no go hand over important election decisions to computer systems wey dey work on their own.
E talk say decisions about election results, checking voters’ identity and deciding whether candidates qualify to contest no go depend completely on computer systems or machines without human supervision.
Amupitan add say people must remain responsible for election decisions, while the law and courts go continue to play their roles throughout the election process.
The INEC chairman also warn about the dangers of computer-generated fake videos, fake voices, false pictures, political adverts wey target specific people, unfair computer calculations and automatic attacks on computer networks.
E say these things fit deceive voters and make people lose trust in correct election information.
According to am, one of the biggest dangers no be only people hacking ballot boxes, but also using false information to deceive voters and change how dem think.
“If voters no fit know the difference between true information and fake information wey computer produce, e go become difficult for dem to make informed choices,” Amupitan warn.
