The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering a mock presidential election to test the reliability of its electoral technology ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, while also developing a faster digital response system to tackle AI-generated and manipulated misinformation.
National Commissioner Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam, SAN, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN).
The conference, themed “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruption and the New Dynamics of Electoral Communication,” examined the growing impact of technology and digital communication on elections across Africa.
Adam said INEC had begun a comprehensive review of its electoral technology infrastructure as part of preparations for the 2027 polls.
The assessment covers system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery planning. The commission is also considering a mock presidential election to test its systems and identify potential weaknesses before election day.
The proposed exercise is informed partly by lessons from the 2023 general election, when technologies including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) played significant roles in the electoral process.
However, Adam stressed that technological improvements alone would not be enough to guarantee public trust without reliable performance and clear communication.
He said INEC was therefore working on a rapid-response digital communication mechanism designed to detect, verify and counter false or misleading information before it gains widespread traction.
The commission also plans to strengthen partnerships with universities, communication scholars, media organisations, fact-checkers, technology companies and civil society groups to build a more resilient electoral information ecosystem.
Speaking at the conference, ACSPN National President, Prof. Rotimi Williams Olatunji, called for a coordinated approach involving electoral authorities, political parties, media organisations, technology platforms, civil society organisations and academic institutions.
Olatunji said stronger fact-checking mechanisms, AI-content detection tools, responsible political communication and improved media literacy would be critical to protecting the credibility of the electoral process.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, also warned about the possible influence of AI-generated and manipulated content on the 2027 elections.
Issa-Onilu urged stakeholders to encourage responsible digital citizenship and provide Nigerians with the skills needed to distinguish genuine information from fabricated or manipulated content.
One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of a Plaque of Honour to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, in recognition of the commission’s contribution to democratic governance and electoral integrity.
Adam received the award on behalf of the INEC chairman.
The conference brought together communication scholars, media professionals, policymakers, election administrators and technology experts to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in electoral communication ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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