The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerian editors that artificial intelligence-driven deepfakes, cloned audio, and fabricated election results could undermine public confidence in the 2027 general elections, urging newsrooms to make rigorous digital verification a frontline defence of democracy.
Joash Amupitan, chairman of INEC, gave the warning on Thursday in Enugu at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference. He cautioned that generative artificial intelligence had moved election misinformation beyond conventional propaganda into what he described as a synthetically manufactured reality.
Represented by Chukwuemeka Chukwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Amupitan said malicious actors could now produce convincing videos of electoral officials, clone their voices, and circulate fabricated result sheets within minutes of the close of polls.
Truth greeted with skepticism
Amupitan warned that the danger went beyond individual falsehoods, noting that widespread exposure to convincing fake content could cause citizens to doubt even genuine information released by constitutional authorities.
‘When deepfakes render lies believable, real truth is greeted with skepticism. Cynicism replaces civic engagement,’ Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman urged editors to establish specialised fact-checking desks, deploy forensic image-analysis tools, and ensure that election results are verified through official INEC channels before publication.
He also issued a strong warning against the publication or amplification of privately collated election results, particularly figures circulated by political actors on social media.
Safeguards and journalist welfare
Amupitan disclosed that INEC was responding to the changing information environment by establishing a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology Department.
He also linked the economic welfare of journalists to the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process, warning media owners that poorly remunerated journalists could be more exposed to political inducement.
Eze Anaba, president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, said the media had a responsibility to protect democratic institutions by holding power accountable and creating space for diverse voices. Meanwhile, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, called for the creation of a joint rapid response desk involving newsrooms to counter election misinformation ahead of 2027.