The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that artificial intelligence will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general election, insisting that the power to choose the country’s leaders rests exclusively with voters.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance at the AI and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, where he explained how the commission plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve electoral operations without allowing the technology to replace the will of the electorate.

Also read: PDP candidate’s prayer call for dead Ogige traders moves Anglican Synod to tears

Responding to a question about whether algorithms would decide the 2027 election, Amupitan, according to Arise News, said the answer was unequivocally no.

“Algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 votes,” he said.

He added that the choice of who leads Nigeria belonged to the Nigerian people.

While ruling out the use of algorithms to determine election winners, Amupitan said AI-driven geospatial analysis and predictive modelling could help the commission improve logistics and meet its operational requirements.

He disclosed that since assuming office on October 23, 2025, he had overseen five major elections and more than 16 by-elections, during which INEC tested predictive logistics optimisation.

According to the chairman, reports from civil society organisations and election observers indicated improvements in the early deployment of election materials and the commencement of voting during those elections.

Amupitan also explained that AI components were already incorporated into some of the technologies used by the commission, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He said facial recognition and fingerprint technologies used for voter accreditation involved AI components, adding that similar technologies had been incorporated into smart card readers previously deployed by INEC.

The commission, he noted, was refining its systems to address challenges associated with artificial intelligence and ensure that the technology was used for lawful purposes.

Amupitan said INEC could not publicly disclose certain details of its preparations because of cybersecurity concerns.

At a press conference on October 6, he announced that the commission had established a dedicated AI division within its Information and Communication Technology Department.

The division is intended to support result verification and strengthen cybersecurity ahead of the 2027 general election.

He also disclosed that INEC had integrated automated AI auditing tools into its result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework, with mandatory human oversight.

According to the chairman, the commission is finalising its AI governance policy to guide the technology’s use throughout the electoral process.

Also read: PDP candidate’s prayer call for dead Ogige traders moves Anglican Synod to tears

The assurance comes as INEC prepares to deploy technology in aspects of election administration, with Amupitan maintaining that artificial intelligence will serve as a support tool rather than a substitute for voters’ decisions.