INEC Boss Drops Truth Bomb: AI Must Serve Nigeria, Not Replace Us
Nigeria's electoral chief has a clear message for the world: Artificial Intelligence is a tool for our progress, not a master to bow to. Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made this crystal clear on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections in Ottawa, Canada.
While the world obsesses over fancy algorithms, Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, reminded everyone that the real power lies in our institutions. He stated that the successful use of AI in elections depends more on strong governance and safeguards than on the tech itself. This is a pan-African stance that puts our destiny firmly in our own hands.
Why Nigeria's Electoral Tech is Already a Continental Leader
Amupitan, joined by INEC's Director of ICT, Dr Lawrence Bayode, showcased how Nigeria is not just following global trends but setting them. He highlighted our homegrown innovations like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and the Automated Biometrics Identification System (ABIS). These tools were built to cut out human error and manual interference, making our elections more credible and efficient.
Let's talk numbers, because they speak volumes. Nigeria manages over 93 million registered voters, operates roughly 180,000 polling units, and deploys about 185,000 BVAS devices. We do this simultaneously across 36 states and the FCT. That scale makes technology essential, but Amupitan insists it must never be for its own sake.
“AI must strengthen electoral integrity, improve public service, and always remain under human control,” Amupitan declared.
The Legal Muscle Behind Our Digital Democracy
This isn't a free-for-all. Amupitan laid out the strong legal framework backing our tech drive: the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, INEC Regulations, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and the Cybercrimes Act 2024. He specifically pointed to the Electoral Act 2026 provisions on electronic voting, biometric accreditation, and electronic result transmission. We have the laws to protect our sovereignty in the digital age.
INEC's Bold Move: An AI Division Built for the Future
Here is the smart part. INEC is not treating AI like a side project. Amupitan revealed the Commission has set up a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department. They have an AI Roadmap for phased adoption and an AI Governance Framework that is currently getting internal approval. They are also building AI literacy among staff, pulling in experts from ICT, Operations, Legal, and Voter Education. This is institutional readiness, and it is how we win.
“Responsible AI begins with institutional readiness, not technology,” he said.
Five Principles to Keep AI in Check
Amupitan laid down five non-negotiable principles for INEC's AI initiatives: human oversight, transparency and accountability, data protection and privacy, cybersecurity and risk management, and operational value and public trust. He stressed that AI will assist our election officials, not replace their human judgment.
In a sneak peek of what is coming, he revealed INEC has introduced an intelligent Results Management process. This system is designed to spot discrepancies in election result records, adding another layer of protection for our votes.
This is the kind of forward-thinking leadership that puts Africa on the map. We are building our own systems, guided by our own laws, for our own people. That is the Najia Pulse way.