The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has held strategic engagements with Microsoft, Google and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) as part of efforts to strengthen the Commission’s technological capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan met senior officials of the technology companies and IFES on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections in Ottawa, Canada, where election management bodies, technology experts and international organisations are examining the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence in electoral processes.
The INEC chairman, who was accompanied by the Commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr Lawrence Bayode, first met with Microsoft’s Emerging Tech and Cyber Lead, Ethan Chumley, and Programme Manager, Ariana Molina.
ALSO READ: 2027 elections: Atiku’s South-East team trains polling agents
Discussions focused on emerging technologies, cybersecurity and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence to strengthen the security and resilience of electoral processes.
In a separate meeting, Amupitan held discussions with Dr Lisa Poggiali, Chief AI Advisor at IFES, on the responsible use of AI in election administration and the adoption of relevant practices from other democracies to support INEC’s operations.
The chairman also met with Google’s Global Lead, Civic Responsibility, David J. Lopez, in Ottawa on Friday.
The meeting, which also took place on the sidelines of the three-day conference holding from September 9 to 11, focused on issues surrounding technology and the use of AI in electoral processes.
At the conference, Amupitan presented Nigeria’s experience in institutionalising responsible AI for electoral administration.
According to INEC, the engagements are part of efforts to build strategic partnerships with leading technology and electoral institutions to improve the Commission’s capacity to respond to emerging technological opportunities and risks.
The Commission said the collaborations would also support efforts to enhance the security, resilience, transparency and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections brought together election management bodies, technology experts and international organisations to examine the implications of AI for elections and promote responsible approaches to its deployment.