Nigeria is entering a new phase in its political and electoral journey, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is warning that one of the biggest challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections may not happen at polling stations.
It could happen on phones, social media platforms and other digital spaces.
INEC has raised concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create and distribute manipulated audio, videos and images, warning that the technology has made deceptive political content cheaper to produce and increasingly difficult to identify.
The warning comes as political activity and public discussion surrounding the 2027 elections continue to intensify.
According to INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the threat goes beyond obviously fake photographs or videos. AI can also be used to create highly targeted political messages that present different narratives to different groups of voters.
That development, INEC says, means electoral technology and electoral communication can no longer be treated as completely separate issues.
Why INEC Is Raising the Alarm Now
Artificial intelligence has become increasingly accessible.
People can now use AI tools to generate realistic-looking images, imitate voices, create videos and produce large amounts of written content in a relatively short time.
During an election period, the consequences can be significant.
A fabricated video appearing to show a political candidate making a controversial statement could circulate rapidly before journalists or election officials have time to establish whether it is authentic.
A manipulated audio recording could similarly be presented as a leaked conversation.
A fabricated photograph could be shared as evidence of an event that never happened.
The problem becomes even more complicated when the material is deliberately designed to look convincing.
INEC's recent warning specifically points to the difficulty of detecting manipulated audio, video and images as generative AI becomes more accessible.
AI Could Change the Nature of Election Misinformation
Traditional misinformation can involve false claims, misleading headlines, edited photographs or fabricated stories.
AI introduces another dimension.
Instead of producing one false message for a large audience, sophisticated systems can potentially assist in creating different messages for different audiences.
INEC has warned that AI could be used to produce targeted messaging capable of feeding conflicting narratives to different groups of voters.
This means two people could potentially encounter completely different versions of a political story online, each designed to appeal to their interests, concerns or existing beliefs.
The result could be greater confusion about what is actually happening.
Deepfakes Could Become a Major Election Challenge
One of the most discussed AI-related threats is the deepfake.
A deepfake is manipulated or synthetic media designed to make it appear that a person said or did something when they did not.
In an election environment, this could involve:
- Fake speeches
- Manipulated interviews
- Artificially generated voice recordings
- Altered photographs
- Fabricated campaign videos
- Fake statements attributed to candidates
- False announcements presented as coming from election officials
- Manipulated footage of political events
Not every manipulated piece of content will necessarily be sophisticated.
But even relatively simple material can become influential if it reaches a large audience quickly.
The challenge is therefore not simply whether an individual can identify a fake image. It is also how quickly accurate information can reach the public after misleading content begins circulating.
Why Fake Audio May Be Particularly Dangerous
Images and videos can sometimes be questioned because of visible inconsistencies.
Audio can be more difficult for ordinary listeners to verify.
A convincing artificial voice claiming to belong to a politician, INEC official or other public figure could potentially be circulated through messaging platforms and social media.
People may forward such recordings because they appear to contain private or urgent information.
Once a recording has been shared thousands of times, correcting the original falsehood can become much more difficult.
This is one reason INEC is emphasizing verification and responsible communication ahead of the elections.
The Problem Is Bigger Than Deepfakes
INEC's warning is not limited to fake videos and cloned voices.
The commission is also concerned about the broader information environment surrounding elections.
Election credibility depends not only on what happens when voters cast their ballots but also on the information voters receive before, during and after voting.
For example, voters need reliable information about:
- Election dates
- Polling arrangements
- Registration and voter information
- Voting procedures
- Official announcements
- Results
- Electoral disputes
- Security-related developments
- Statements issued by INEC
If false information dominates these conversations, citizens may struggle to distinguish official information from fabricated claims.
INEC Says Electoral Technology and Communication Must Work Together
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has previously emphasized that election credibility cannot be considered only in terms of ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets.
The information environment in which voters form their judgments is also important.
In February 2026, Amupitan warned that misinformation, misinterpretation, deliberate distortion and foreign information manipulation could undermine electoral processes. He urged media organisations to promote accurate reporting and described the information space as an important arena in which elections are contested.
The latest AI warning expands that concern.
Technology can assist electoral administration, but technology can also be used to manufacture misleading information about the electoral process.
INEC Is Training Its Communication Officers
INEC has begun strengthening the capacity of its Public Affairs Officers ahead of the 2027 elections.
A capacity-building workshop held in Abuja focused on credible, verified and responsible election communication.
The programme is intended to improve officers' ability to:
- Verify information
- Identify misinformation and disinformation
- Escalate emerging information problems
- Communicate consistently
- Respond to false claims
- Monitor the information environment
- Use AI responsibly
- Understand the limitations of AI
- Protect confidentiality
- Provide accurate public information
INEC has described its Public Affairs Officers as an important frontline communication link between the commission and Nigerians.
What Is the Difference Between Misinformation and Disinformation?
These two terms are often used together, but they have different meanings.
Misinformation
Misinformation generally refers to false or inaccurate information that is shared without necessarily intending to deceive.
For example, someone might receive an incorrect election date and share it because they genuinely believe it is true.
Disinformation
Disinformation involves false or manipulated information deliberately created or distributed to deceive or mislead.
An AI-generated fake video intentionally presented as genuine election footage would be an example of the type of manipulation that raises disinformation concerns.
The distinction matters because deliberate campaigns can be more difficult to counter than individual mistakes.
How AI Could Affect Voters
The potential impact is not limited to election day.
AI-generated misinformation could potentially influence conversations throughout the electoral cycle.
It could affect perceptions of:
Candidates: Fake statements or manipulated interviews could create false impressions.
Political parties: Fabricated claims could be presented as official party positions.
Election officials: Fake announcements could undermine confidence in legitimate information.
Election results: Fabricated result graphics could circulate before official results are announced.
Security situations: Old or manipulated videos could be presented as evidence of current events.
Public debates: AI-generated material could be used to manufacture controversies that never occurred.
These examples illustrate why verification becomes especially important during election periods.
Why Social Media Makes the Challenge More Complicated
Digital platforms allow information to move extremely quickly.
A claim posted by one person can be copied, reposted, quoted, edited and redistributed by thousands of others.
A correction may arrive later, but the original false claim may already have reached a much larger audience.
AI potentially increases the volume and speed at which misleading material can be created.
This creates a race between content creation and content verification.
The faster false information spreads, the greater the challenge for journalists, election officials, fact-checkers and ordinary citizens attempting to establish what is true.
What Nigerians Should Watch Out For Ahead of 2027
As the election approaches, citizens may encounter increasingly sophisticated political content.
Several warning signs deserve attention.
1. Extraordinary claims
If a post claims something shocking or unprecedented, pause before sharing it.
2. Unverified voice recordings
Do not automatically assume a voice recording is genuine simply because the voice sounds familiar.
3. Suspicious videos
A video appearing to show a politician saying something controversial should be checked against credible reporting and official statements.
4. Fake-looking election graphics
Election results should be treated cautiously unless they come from an authoritative source or established reporting based on verifiable information.
5. Screenshots without context
A screenshot can be altered, taken out of context or presented without the original source.
6. Pressure to share immediately
Messages saying “share this before it is deleted” or similar claims should receive additional scrutiny.
7. Anonymous sources presented as official
A message circulating through a private group should not automatically be treated as an official INEC announcement.
The Importance of Checking Official Information
INEC has identified its official communication channels as authoritative sources for information about the electoral process.
For citizens, one of the simplest safeguards is to check important election claims against official information before accepting or sharing them.
For journalists and content creators, verification should be even more rigorous.
Publishing quickly is important in modern media, but accuracy remains essential when dealing with elections.
The Role of Journalists and Content Creators
The media will have an important role in the information environment surrounding the 2027 elections.
A false claim can become much more influential when repeated by established media organisations, blogs or social media personalities.
Journalists and content creators therefore face an important responsibility to distinguish:
What is confirmed
from
What is alleged
and
What remains unverified.
Clear attribution can also help audiences understand the difference between an official statement, a political claim and an independently established fact.
AI Is Not Only a Threat
Artificial intelligence itself is not inherently misinformation.
The same technology creating new challenges can also be used for constructive purposes.
AI can potentially assist with:
- Translation
- Accessibility
- Information organisation
- Content analysis
- Monitoring large volumes of information
- Identifying suspicious patterns
- Supporting fact-checking workflows
- Improving communication
The challenge is ensuring that technological tools are used responsibly and that human verification remains central to important electoral information.
INEC's Warning Comes at a Critical Moment
Nigeria's 2027 general elections will take place in an increasingly digital political environment.
Political parties, candidates, journalists, civil society organisations and voters are expected to use digital platforms extensively.
That means the information battle surrounding an election may unfold simultaneously with the traditional political campaign.
The latest warning from INEC suggests that protecting electoral credibility will require more than securing polling units and deploying electoral technology.
It will also require attention to the information that reaches voters.
What the 2027 Election Information Battle Could Look Like
The coming election cycle could feature a mixture of genuine political communication and increasingly sophisticated synthetic content.
Voters may encounter:
Real videos mixed with manipulated videos.
Genuine speeches mixed with AI-generated audio.
Authentic photographs mixed with fabricated images.
Official announcements mixed with fake announcements.
Real election results mixed with fabricated graphics.
The ability to distinguish between these categories could become increasingly important.
A New Responsibility for Every Social Media User
Election misinformation is not only a problem for governments and election officials.
Ordinary social media users can either accelerate or slow its spread.
Every time someone forwards an unverified political claim, the audience for that claim expands.
Conversely, taking time to verify information before sharing can prevent a false story from spreading further.
That makes digital responsibility a shared task.
Final Plea
INEC's latest warning highlights a rapidly changing reality: the integrity of an election increasingly depends not only on what happens at polling stations but also on the reliability of the information surrounding voters.
Artificial intelligence can make political communication faster, cheaper and more sophisticated.
It can also make fabricated content increasingly convincing.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, the ability of citizens, journalists, election officials and digital platforms to identify and respond to manipulated information will remain an important part of the wider electoral environment.
The central lesson for voters is simple:
Do not believe political content simply because it looks real. Verify before you trust it. Verify before you publish it. And especially, verify before you share it.
Nigeria's next election will be fought not only in political rallies and polling units, but also in the rapidly evolving digital information space.
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