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What happens when machines, not just politicians, shape the outcome of elections? As Nigeria marches toward the 2027 general elections, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping political discourse, influencing voter behavior, and even determining electoral outcomes cannot be ignored. From AI-powered disinformation campaigns to automated election monitoring, technology is becoming an invisible but powerful player in our democratic process. But will AI strengthen Nigeria’s fragile electoral system, or will it be weaponized to further undermine democracy?
The 2023 elections exposed the deep cracks in Nigeria’s electoral integrity—issues ranging from logistical failures to widespread allegations of voter suppression and manipulation. Now, with AI’s growing influence in political processes worldwide, and experience from recent elections in the United State, Gabon, Brazil and many others, Nigeria stands at a crossroads: Will we leverage AI to enhance transparency, accountability, and voter education, or will we allow it to be hijacked by bad actors to spread propaganda, suppress votes, and manipulate public perception?
This article examines AI’s impact on election integrity, analyzing the responsibilities of key stakeholders—government, political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), media organizations, civil society, and human rights activists. As 2027 approaches, the time to act is now. The future of Nigerian democracy may well depend on how we navigate the intersection of artificial intelligence and electoral integrity.
AI and Nigeria’s Electoral Integrity: Lessons from 2023 and the Road to 2027
Nigeria’s 2023 general elections were a stark reminder of both the promise and peril of technology in the democratic process. On one hand, digital innovations—such as INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)—were introduced to curb electoral malpractice, on the other, the elections were marred by misinformation, voter suppression, and credibility concerns that underscored the growing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping political narratives.
One of the most alarming developments was the proliferation of AI-generated disinformation. Deepfake videos, AI-manipulated images, and synthetic audio recordings circulated widely, falsely attributing statements to political figures and fueling ethnic and religious tensions. The speed and scale of these falsehoods demonstrated the dangers of AI-powered propaganda in an already fragile electoral environment.
However, Nigeria was not entirely unprepared. Civil society organizations, media platforms, and even the government took notable steps to counter AI-driven electoral threats. The government, recognizing the transformative and disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, launched its National AI Strategy—a blueprint for integrating AI into governance while mitigating its risks. Meanwhile, fact-checking organizations like Dubawa and FactCheckAfrica developed AI-powered verification tools to detect deepfake content, analyze suspicious election-related claims, and slow the spread of synthetic media. These interventions, while commendable, were merely the first steps in a much larger fight to safeguard election integrity.
AI and Elections: Global Warnings for Nigeria
Since Nigeria’s last elections, several countries have gone to the polls, offering fresh lessons on AI’s growing role in electoral processes.
Brazil (2022–2023): AI as a Misinformation Weapon
Brazil’s elections saw an explosion of AI-generated fake news, with deepfake videos and AI-voiced robocalls being used to deceive voters. WhatsApp and Telegram, two widely used platforms, became battlegrounds for synthetic propaganda. Nigeria, where these messaging apps are also major political mobilization tools, must prepare for similar tactics in 2027.
Gabon (2023): AI Surveillance and Electoral Suppression
Ahead of Gabon’s 2023 elections, leaked audio recordings allegedly featuring opposition leaders discussing foreign alliances and election strategies went viral. The incumbent government swiftly seized on the recordings, accusing the opposition of plotting unrest and attempting to undermine national stability, while the opposition figures dismissed the tapes as fabrications, claiming they were artificially generated using AI-powered voice cloning technology. They condemned what they described as a malicious effort to manipulate public opinion and sabotage their electoral chances.
This case underscores a growing threat: AI’s ability to manufacture political scandals, distort public perception, and disrupt electoral processes. When synthetic media infiltrates political discourse, voters struggle to separate fact from fiction, leaving democracy vulnerable to manipulation.
United States (2024): AI and the Threat of Deepfake Candidates
In early U.S. primaries, AI-generated robocalls impersonating political figures attempted to mislead voters. The rapid advancement of voice-cloning technology means that Nigerian voters could face similar deception tactics in 2027, with fake endorsements or misleading AI-generated speeches influencing public perception.
With AI’s growing role in electoral processes worldwide, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. Will the lessons from 2023 and global experiences push the country toward responsible AI governance, or will bad actors exploit technology to deepen Nigeria’s electoral flaws? The next section will analyze the role of key stakeholders—government, political parties, INEC, media organizations, civil society, and human rights activists—in ensuring AI is a tool for transparency, not manipulation.
AI and Election Integrity: The Role of Key Stakeholders
Artificial intelligence will not rig the 2027 elections by itself—humans will. But AI will be the most potent tool in the hands of those who seek to either protect or corrupt the electoral process. Whether AI serves as a force for transparency or a weapon of deception depends entirely on the actions of Nigeria’s key stakeholders: the government, political parties, INEC, media organizations, civil society, and human rights activists.
- The Government: Will It Regulate or Exploit AI?
Launching a National AI Strategy is a commendable first step, but it is nowhere near enough. The real challenge is the regulatory vacuum surrounding AI-generated disinformation, which has already created an accountability crisis in synthetic media (GenAI). If left unaddressed, this crisis will metastasize into a full-blown democratic pandemic, where elections are no longer determined by votes but by AI-crafted falsehoods.
The federal government must urgently review and update Nigeria’s electoral laws to close these loopholes. Regulations must clearly define what AI tools can be used in election-related activities, what is strictly prohibited, and what limitations must be imposed on AI-generated content. Platforms that host or distribute unverified AI content designed to mislead voters should face strict bans and penalties. In short, the government must not just react to AI’s evolution—it must stay ahead of it.
- Political Parties: Masters of Manipulation or Champions of Digital Ethics?
Nigerian political parties are not known for playing fair. In an election where AI can generate viral propaganda in seconds, parties will either weaponize the technology or advocate for its ethical use. If history is any guide, the former is more likely.
In Ghana and the U.S., we have witnessed how political campaigns used AI-powered microtargeting to flood voters’ timelines with personalized propaganda. However, this is the moment for political parties to rise above their usual cutthroat tactics and play a role in promoting legitimacy and safeguarding democracy. With synthetic media now capable of distorting public perception at scale, parties must develop a unified stance on what constitutes a free and fair election in the AI era. This means establishing inter-party principles on the ethical use of AI, guiding their members on responsible AI adoption, and rejecting digital disinformation as a campaign tool.
- INEC: A Digital Referee or a Spectator in the AI Era?
INEC’s credibility is already hanging by a thread. The 2023 general elections, marred by controversies over the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal, left many Nigerians questioning whether the electoral umpire is a neutral arbiter or a compromised institution. If AI is to strengthen—rather than further corrode—electoral integrity, INEC must take charge now.
The first and most pressing task is AI-driven election monitoring. INEC cannot afford to be a passive observer while deepfake videos, AI-generated propaganda, and synthetic media manipulate public perception. By 2027, AI-powered disinformation could spread at an unprecedented speed, making traditional fact-checking methods too slow to counter the damage. INEC must collaborate with fact-checking organizations, cybersecurity experts, and AI developers to establish real-time AI detection systems that flag and neutralize false election-related content before it misleads the public.
Beyond fact-checking, INEC must redefine transparency in the digital age. The failures of IReV in 2023 underscored the risks of technological inconsistency—if INEC deploys AI-enhanced tools in 2027, it must ensure they are tamper-proof, universally accessible, and resistant to political interference. Trust in electoral technology is not just about having sophisticated tools; it’s about guaranteeing that these tools work without selective failures.
Moreover, INEC must push for legislative backing on AI-related election guidelines. The electoral body should work with lawmakers to define what AI applications are permissible in election administration, voter education, and result management. Crucially, there must be legal consequences for candidates, political parties, or organizations caught using AI to spread false information or manipulate voter behavior.
The question is no longer whether AI will be used in Nigeria’s elections—it will. The real question is: will INEC lead AI governance, or will it be reduced to an institution playing catch-up, reacting helplessly to digital chaos?
- Media Organizations: Gatekeepers or Enablers of AI Propaganda?
The Nigerian media landscape is already drowning in misinformation, and AI will only make it worse. In 2027, deepfake videos of candidates making inflammatory statements could spread like wildfire. Fake news articles, generated in seconds by AI, could manipulate voters on an unprecedented scale. The media’s role, therefore, is clear: become proactive fact-checkers or risk becoming unwitting enablers of AI-driven disinformation.
Organizations like Dubawa and FactCheckAfrica have started using AI-powered verification tools, but fact-checking must go mainstream. Every newsroom must invest in AI detection tools, train journalists in synthetic media analysis, and establish rapid-response teams to debunk viral disinformation before it poisons the electorate.
- Civil Society and Human Rights Activists: The Last Line of Defense
If the government drags its feet, if political parties manipulate AI, if INEC fails in its duty, and if the media succumbs to sensationalism, civil society will be the last line of defense.
Human rights organizations and election monitoring groups must pressure the government to enact AI regulations, educate voters on AI threats, and build digital literacy programs to help Nigerians spot deepfake content. The battle for a credible 2027 election will not just be fought at polling units but in the digital trenches, where civil society must counter AI-driven propaganda with truth and transparency.
AI Will Not Save Nigeria’s Democracy—Nigerians Will
Artificial Intelligence is not the problem, humans are. AI is merely a tool—one that can either safeguard democracy or sabotage it. Whether it becomes an instrument of electoral transparency or a weapon of mass deception depends entirely on the choices Nigeria makes now.
We have already seen how AI was used in recent elections—from Gabon’s deepfake audio scandal to the AI-powered disinformation battles in the U.S. and Ghana. If Nigeria fails to act, 2027 could be the election where truth itself is outsourced to algorithms, and reality becomes whatever the highest bidder programs it to be. The stakes could not be higher.
The government must move beyond policy statements and urgently update electoral laws to regulate AI’s role in political communication. Political parties must break free from their culture of digital brigandage and agree on a principled approach to AI’s ethical use in elections. INEC must stop lurching from one credibility crisis to another and take control of AI-driven election monitoring. The media must resist the temptation of viral sensationalism and commit to real-time AI fact-checking. Civil society groups and human rights activists must prepare for digital combat, ensuring that voters are educated, protected, and shielded from AI-engineered electoral fraud.
But at the end of the day, no law, no institution, no technology can save Nigeria’s democracy if Nigerians themselves do not rise to defend it. AI will play a defining role in 2027, but the real battle is not between algorithms and democracy—it is between truth and deception, integrity and manipulation, vigilance and complacency.
The question is no longer whether AI will shape Nigeria’s 2027 elections. It will. The real question is: will Nigerians control AI, or will AI control Nigeria’s democracy?
Habeeb Adewale is a Postgraduate Student of Research and Public Policy at University of Lagos and Social Development expert with over 8 years of experience in managing projects that leverage technology for social goods.
