The European Union (EU) has warned that Nigeria’s 2027 normal elections could possibly be undermined by synthetic intelligence-driven misinformation, fabricated bulletins and manipulated election outcomes, even and not using a single poll being bodily altered.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, gave the warning in Abuja on Monday on the opening of the National Summit on Electoral Information Integrity, stressing the necessity to shield the nation’s electoral course of from rising digital threats.
Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s dedication to supporting initiatives geared toward strengthening data integrity, media resilience and accountable digital engagement as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.
The summit, organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), with EU assist beneath the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme and DAI, introduced collectively electoral officers, media practitioners, civil society organisations and different stakeholders to develop methods for countering digital manipulation.
The EU’s intervention comes amid rising issues that synthetic intelligence could possibly be exploited to generate convincing faux movies, clone voices, fabricate statements by public officers and flow into false election bulletins able to deceptive voters and eroding confidence in democratic establishments.
Opening the summit, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, mentioned electoral threats had moved past bodily interference at polling items to classy digital operations able to influencing public opinion earlier than voting begins.
“INEC cannot police the truth alone,” Amupitan mentioned, calling for a united entrance involving authorities establishments, safety businesses, media organisations, know-how corporations and civil society.
He mentioned public consciousness alone was inadequate to deal with the problem, urging stakeholders to determine coordinated response mechanisms, institutionalised fact-checking channels and clear procedures for escalating suspected circumstances of knowledge manipulation.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the fee was strengthening its technological and communication capability to detect manipulated content material, confirm suspicious data and difficulty well timed clarifications throughout conventional and digital platforms.
He, nonetheless, cautioned that efforts to fight misinformation should not be used to suppress press freedom, freedom of expression or authentic political dissent.
Former INEC chairman and chairman of the event, Prof. Attahiru Jega, mentioned synthetic intelligence provided vital alternatives to enhance governance and electoral administration however warned that its deployment within the electoral atmosphere required cautious consideration to potential dangers.
Also talking, the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, mentioned the wrestle for voters’ belief was already unfolding on digital platforms lengthy earlier than residents arrived at polling stations.
Representing the Minister of Information, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr. Dili Ezughah, mentioned electoral integrity depended not solely on voting, counting and the announcement of outcomes but additionally on the standard of knowledge out there to residents earlier than, throughout and after elections.
He famous that Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, printed in 2024, offered a framework for accountable, inclusive and accountable deployment of the know-how.
Papers offered on the summit examined preparedness in opposition to AI-driven electoral threats, overseas data manipulation and interference, hate speech, coordinated disinformation and the publicity of various teams of voters to on-line manipulation.
A panel session additionally explored how voters, public figures and digital algorithms form the electoral data atmosphere.
The summit is predicted to supply sensible commitments and methods to guard Nigeria’s electoral data atmosphere forward of the 2027 normal elections.
We’ve received the sting. Get real-time reviews, breaking scoops, and unique angles delivered straight to your telephone. Don’t accept stale information. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for twenty-four/7 updates →
