“Voters Must Be Able To Make Decisions Based On Credible Information” — EU Warns Against AI-Driven Electoral Disinformation

The European Union has warned that AI-generated fake news could threaten the credibility of the 2027 general elections, as the Independent National Electoral Commission explores the use of artificial intelligence to reduce errors in election result management.

The EU, through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme, said manipulated images, videos and audio recordings could mislead millions of voters.

Experts cautioned that the technology could also be exploited to manipulate public opinion and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

INEC, however, said its proposed AI application would help ensure that electronically entered figures match those on paper result sheets before transmission.

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Programme, while raising concerns over the growing threat of artificial intelligence-generated fake news ahead of the 2027 general elections, warned that manipulated images, videos and audio recordings could mislead millions of Nigerians.

The programme said electoral institutions, media organisations, technology platforms and citizens needed to strengthen their preparedness to identify and respond to disinformation as the country approaches the polls.

Speaking on behalf of the EU-SDGN Programme, Lanre Arogundade said on Thursday, in a statement by the EU-SDGN, that advances in artificial intelligence had made it increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic electoral information from fabricated content.

“The challenge before us is no longer simply whether false information can influence elections. Artificial Intelligence has made it possible to produce convincing images, videos and audio recordings capable of misleading millions of people within minutes,” Arogundade said.

He said Nigeria needed to assess whether its electoral institutions, the media, technology platforms and citizens were adequately prepared to tackle the emerging threats.

“As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, we must ask whether our electoral institutions, the media, technology platforms and citizens are sufficiently prepared to recognise and respond to these threats,” he added.

Arogundade spoke ahead of a two-day national summit scheduled for November 2 and 3, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

The summit, titled “Beyond the Ballot: Safeguarding Electoral Information Integrity in the Age of AI,” is being organised by the International Press Centre and the Centre for Media and Society, in collaboration with DAI and International IDEA, under the EU-SDGN Programme, funded by the European Union.

According to the organisers, the summit will bring together approximately 250 participants, including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media organisations, technology platforms, fact-checking groups, civil society organisations, government institutions and academia.

The meeting will examine how AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated images, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and foreign information manipulation and interference could distort electoral information, influence public perceptions and undermine confidence in election outcomes.

A major feature of the summit will be an interactive simulation of an AI-driven electoral disinformation crisis, designed to test how institutions and information actors respond when misleading content spreads during an election.

Arogundade said the gathering was intended to move beyond discussions about information disorder and identify practical measures to protect the integrity of electoral information.

“Beyond the Ballot is not just another conference about information disorder. It is an opportunity to test our preparedness, examine institutional responsibilities and identify practical measures to protect the integrity of electoral information.

“Our objective is to ensure that Nigerians can make electoral decisions based on credible information rather than manipulation, deception or manufactured narratives,” he said.

The summit will also examine the responsibilities of digital platforms, the influence of social media content creators, the implications of foreign information manipulation and interference, and the evolving role of journalism in an AI-driven information environment.

Participants are expected to discuss strategies for detecting manipulated content, verifying election-related claims, communicating accurate information during electoral emergencies and strengthening public resilience against disinformation.

The discussions will also consider how to protect electoral information integrity while safeguarding freedom of expression, media independence and citizens’ right to information.

The concerns come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, when political campaigns and voter engagement are expected to rely heavily on digital communication platforms.

INEC, however, said it was deploying AI to curb errors in election result management ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking at the launch of the AI for Elections Programme and Hackathon organised by Rise Networks in Abuja, INEC Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, said the commission was exploring practical uses of AI while putting safeguards in place to ensure its responsible deployment.

Explaining how the technology would work in the result management system, he said: “The system checks whether the figures entered electronically match those on the paper result sheets and scanned copies before transmission is allowed. If discrepancies exist, they must be resolved before the results can be uploaded.”

Bayode said the initiative would help minimise human errors, enhance operational efficiency and ensure that figures published on INEC’s portal correspond with results recorded at polling units.

He cautioned, however, that technological advancement must not undermine electoral security, operational stability or public trust, urging developers to use publicly available or duly authorised data without compromising critical electoral infrastructure.

Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Sade Dada, said the increasing sophistication of AI-generated content was making it harder for people to distinguish authentic information from manipulated content.

“Elections are decided by voters. Voters make decisions based on what they believe, and what they believe depends on what they can trust,” Dada said.

She identified cloned videos and synthetic voices as growing threats, noting that relatively simple tools now allow individuals to produce misleading content on a large scale.

However, Dada said AI could also help address the challenge through content verification, digital literacy initiatives and multilingual information services.

She explained that Meta labels AI-generated content and requires advertisers to disclose the use of AI to significantly alter political advertisements, adding that the company’s technologies could help develop tools to identify manipulated images and videos.

Citing a local initiative, she said Meta had partnered with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and Publica AI to launch GovGuide Nigeria, an AI-powered chatbot that provides government information in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

Dada said similar tools could enable voters to access reliable information on voter registration, polling units and electoral procedures in languages they understand.

The convener of the programme, Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, said the initiative aimed to translate discussions about AI into practical technological solutions to address electoral challenges ahead of the 2027 general election.

She said the programme builds on Run-Am, an AI-powered application developed to detect misinformation and fact-check content during the 2023 elections.

According to her, the initiative would feature a national hackathon, an AI Innovations Development Hub and a Community of Practice to nurture promising solutions beyond the competition.

Its focus areas include access to credible electoral information, election data analysis, inclusive and multilingual civic technology, cybersecurity and resilience, as well as election observation and citizen accountability.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said participants must develop functional solutions rather than submit ideas or presentations alone. She added that applications were open to eligible Nigerians aged 18 and above.

The application period opened on Thursday, October 22, and will close on November 12, 2026. Participants may apply individually or in teams of up to four members.

The organisers announced a total prize pool of ₦10 million, with ₦4 million for the overall winner, ₦2.5 million for the runner-up and ₦1.5 million for third place. Four additional special awards of ₦500,000 each will also be presented.

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