Civil society organisations and political analysts have voiced contrasting views. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) outlined plans to deploy AI-driven result auditing tools. The tools will operate under a new governance framework for upcoming elections. The commission said the technology would improve accuracy and speed.
INEC created an Artificial Intelligence division in its ICT Department. The division will verify result sheets. It will curb fake news. It will support 57,000 new BVAS deployments. The commission has faced criticism over result transmission. In 2019, server issues delayed uploads. In 2023, BVAS failed in some polling units. The IReV portal was slow. Fake results circulated online. The AI tools are meant to address those gaps. An SBM Intelligence report in July 2026 found that 66.5% of Nigerians fear AI-generated misinformation could undermine the 2027 elections.
Some CSOs welcomed the plan. They said AI could detect anomalies and flag discrepancies. They said it would speed up verification. They urged INEC to publish the algorithms. They said transparency is essential. Other groups were sceptical. They said technology can fail. They said power supply is unreliable. They said network coverage is uneven. They said training is essential. They warned that AI could introduce new errors. They called for independent audits.
Political analysts were also divided. Some said the tools would improve trust. Others said trust depends on political will, not technology. They said INEC has promised reform before. They said the commission must deliver.
Winners: INEC, which shows innovation. Tech vendors, who supply systems. Voters, if results are accurate. CSOs, which gain a platform. Losers: Fake news peddlers, who face detection. Officials who manipulate results, who face scrutiny. Sceptics, if the tools work. No serious losers if the systems deliver.
Bottom Line: INEC plans AI result auditing. CSOs are split. Some see progress. Others see risk. Technology helps. Trust must follow. The 2027 election will test both.