The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, emphasized that the success of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elections will depend more on strong institutions and good governance than on advanced technology.
He made this statement on Thursday, September 10, 2026, during Nigeria’s presentation at the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections in Ottawa, Canada. He was accompanied by INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Lawrence Bayode.
The INEC chairman noted that the growing use of algorithms and data in democratic processes highlights the importance of responsible innovation for election management bodies.
According to him, Nigeria has steadily incorporated technology to boost the credibility, efficiency, and transparency of its elections, citing tools like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). These technologies were introduced to reduce human error and limit manual interference.
Amupitan pointed out that Nigeria’s large electoral scale makes technology essential, with more than 93 million registered voters, around 180,000 polling units, and approximately 185,000 BVAS devices deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“AI must strengthen electoral integrity, improve public service, and always remain under human control,” he stated.
He warned that AI adoption should be driven by its capacity to bring measurable improvements in election management, service quality, and public trust, not by technology for its own sake.
The INEC chairman also discussed the legal framework overseeing technology use in Nigerian elections, including the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2026, INEC regulations, Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and Cybercrimes Act 2024. The Electoral Act 2026 covers the voters’ register, electronic voting machines, biometric accreditation, electronic result transmission, and the use of validated data in result collation and announcement.
Regarding AI implementation, Amupitan revealed that INEC has begun establishing institutional measures, such as developing an AI Roadmap for phased adoption and an AI Governance Framework undergoing internal approval. The agency is also investing in AI literacy and staff training, using a multidisciplinary approach involving ICT, Operations, Legal, Voter Education, and Risk Management departments.
“Responsible AI begins with institutional readiness — not technology,” he said.
He outlined five principles guiding INEC’s AI initiative: human oversight; transparency and accountability; data protection and privacy; cybersecurity and risk management; and operational value and public trust. He emphasized that AI will serve as a support tool for election officials rather than replacing human decision-making.
As an example, he said INEC has implemented an intelligent Results Management process, digitizing polling unit result forms, extracting data from scanned Form EC8A, and comparing figures with BVAS entries. Discrepancies are flagged automatically for review before results are published. “The system does not alter results. It assists officials by identifying issues that require human attention,” he explained.
Amupitan stated that effective AI deployment depends on trained personnel, quality data, secure platforms, system integration, audit trails, and inter-departmental collaboration, rather than on software alone.
He added that INEC would evaluate AI projects based on indicators such as reducing processing errors, increasing efficiency, system reliability, staff acceptance, security, public trust, and sustainability before scaling nationwide. Projects lacking clear value will be reviewed and refined prior to expansion.
Beyond election operations, he mentioned INEC’s exploration of AI-powered citizen services, including intelligent voter information tools, AI-assisted responses to FAQs, and voter registration support.
Reflecting on lessons learned from technology adoption, he emphasized that successful AI implementation requires leadership commitment, skilled personnel, strong governance, quality data, human oversight, ongoing evaluation, and transparent communication.
Looking ahead, Amupitan described INEC’s vision to develop an AI-enabled Election Management Body by enhancing AI governance, expanding staff capabilities, responsibly scaling successful applications, and bolstering cybersecurity—all while maintaining transparency and public trust.
“Responsible AI is not defined by the sophistication of the technology, but by the strength of the institutions that govern it,” the INEC chairman concluded.
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