The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division under its ICT Department as part of ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing election management in Nigeria.
The initiative, approved at the commission’s regular weekly meeting held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, was disclosed in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to the statement, the commission’s decision reflects a growing recognition of AI’s transformative role in global electoral processes, both in terms of opportunity and risk.
“The meeting considered the increasing relevance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to elections and electoral activities in Nigeria and across the world,” Olumekun said.
INEC noted that while concerns around the manipulation of content and spread of fake news via AI remain valid, the technology also offers immense benefits for:
- Data-driven decision-making,
- Risk detection and mitigation,
- Voter services automation,
- Geo-spatial intelligence, and
- Logistics optimisation for polling unit allocation and material distribution.
The newly established AI Division is expected to coordinate and maximise the commission’s technology investments through centralised AI governance, ensuring the deployment of intelligent tools to enhance transparency, efficiency, and credibility in the electoral process.
“This will enhance decision-making through data-driven insights, improve voter engagement, and strengthen electoral credibility through predictive analytics, automation, and intelligent safeguards,” the statement added.
The commission emphasised that the initiative positions INEC at the forefront of institutionalising AI within Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure, describing it as a strategic administrative reform that aligns with global trends and technological advancement in democratic governance.
