The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has justified the planned deployment of artificial intelligence in Nigeria’s electoral system, maintaining that the technology could strengthen election management despite fears of abuse.

Amupitan made the remarks on Monday, November 2, 2026, at The Beyond the Ballot Summit in Abuja, where he examined the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence ahead of the 2027 general election.

He noted that AI could help with voter registration, logistics planning, data analysis, and handling large voter databases.

Even as he outlined its advantages, Amupitan cautioned that generative AI tools could be misused to spread misinformation and deceive voters.

He also cautioned that advances in technology have made it easier for bad actors to imitate the voices of public figures and create convincing videos of election officials making fake announcements.

The chairman’s comments come as the commission plans to incorporate AI into Nigeria’s electoral processes.

The issue has attracted public attention following the discovery of suspicious photographs in INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

INEC admitted the irregularities and said it was looking into the records. Its ICT director, Lawrence Bayode, linked some of the images to alleged wrongdoing by registration officers.

The commission insisted that the preliminary register would undergo verification and corrections before the final version is certified.