The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Nigerian editors and media organisations to strengthen fact-checking and digital verification systems ahead of the 2027 General Elections, warning that artificial intelligence could intensify the spread of election-related disinformation.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, represented by the Enugu Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, gave the charge on Thursday at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu. He warned that generative AI, voice cloning and deepfake videos could be used to impersonate electoral officials, circulate fake election results and heighten tensions during the electoral process.
Amupitan called on news organisations to establish specialised fact-checking desks, deploy digital forensic tools and verify electoral information with INEC before publication. He also cautioned against publishing or amplifying privately collated or unofficial election results, noting that premature declarations could create conflicting narratives and undermine public confidence in officially declared results.
The INEC chairman urged journalists to prioritise accuracy over the pressure to break news first, stressing that “in national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first.” He disclosed that the commission had established an Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and was deploying AI auditing tools in its Results Management process, with human oversight provided under its AI Governance Framework.
He further emphasised the need to improve journalists’ welfare, warning that poor remuneration and financial insecurity could expose media practitioners to political inducement and compromise their professional independence.
Meanwhile, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, stressed the responsibility of the media to hold those in authority accountable and contribute to strengthening democratic institutions.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, called for the establishment of a joint rapid-response desk involving newsrooms to tackle election misinformation, while urging the media to play a stronger role in addressing voter apathy.
Also speaking, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, underscored the importance of a free press to democracy, noting that while artificial intelligence presents opportunities for journalism, it also creates new challenges that require responsible use.
Deepfakes: INEC Chairman Charges Editors on Rigorous Fact-Checking Ahead 2027#NigeriaDecides2027
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Nigerian editors to strengthen fact-checking and digital verification systems ahead of the 2027 General Elections to… pic.twitter.com/LGrgfYQ6oD
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) September 24, 2026
