2027: INEC warns against AI deepfakes, fake election results
By Olatonmiwa Osho
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and synthetic disinformation could erode public trust in the 2027 general elections, urging newsrooms to strengthen fact-checking and digital verification.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the warning on Thursday at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC 2026) in Enugu. He was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu.
Speaking on the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” Amupitan said generative AI, voice cloning and deepfake technology had made it easier to fabricate and rapidly circulate convincing videos, audio recordings and election documents.
He urged editors to establish specialised fact-checking systems, use digital verification tools and authenticate election-related information through official INEC channels before publication.
The INEC chairman also cautioned media organisations against publishing or amplifying privately collated election results, warning that premature declarations could create conflicting narratives and weaken confidence in officially declared outcomes.
He said the pressure to be first should not override accuracy, particularly during elections, when false information could trigger public tension.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and was deploying automated tools to audit results, subject to human oversight and an AI governance framework.
He linked journalists’ welfare to media credibility, warning that poor remuneration and financial insecurity could increase vulnerability to political inducement.
