In a groundbreaking move set to reshape the future of elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the creation of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division under its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.
The announcement came via an official press release on Thursday, May 22, 2025, following INEC’s weekly meeting. The Commission said the decision was driven by the growing relevance of AI in global electoral systems and its potential to both enhance and disrupt democratic processes.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that the new division will allow the Commission to harness the benefits of AI while countering its potential threats, especially in areas such as fake news, content manipulation, and voter misinformation.
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“This initiative puts the Commission at the forefront of institutionalising AI capabilities within our ICT infrastructure,” Olumekun said.
According to the Commission, the AI Division will serve multiple critical functions:
• Improve logistics planning using geo-spatial intelligence for better material distribution and polling unit allocation;
• Enhance voter engagement and services through automation;
• Strengthen risk detection and mitigation to safeguard the integrity of elections;
• Enable predictive analytics to support smarter, faster decision-making.
INEC also emphasized that this innovation is part of broader reforms being undertaken by the Commission that do not require legislative amendments but can be implemented through administrative action.
The announcement has already sparked conversations in civic and tech communities, many of whom see the move as a positive sign of Nigeria’s intent to modernize and secure its democratic institutions using cutting edge technology.
As Nigeria prepares for upcoming local and national elections, this development may serve as a critical tool in improving transparency, reducing electoral malpractice, and restoring public trust in the system.
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