The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have adopted guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in electoral processes.
The move aims to strengthen electoral integrity and prepare West African democracies for the growing influence of emerging technologies ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The guidelines were validated during a two-day meeting in Nigeria attended by electoral officials and information technology experts from across the sub-region.
The meeting followed the establishment of a working group at the ECONEC symposium held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025.
Speaking during a visit by the ECONEC delegation to INEC, the Permanent Secretary and Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, Mr Serigne Ka, said the guidelines were developed in response to the increasing role of AI in election management.
Ka said the symposium, which focused on AI and electoral integrity, had recommended the creation of a working group to develop a framework for the responsible use of AI.
He said the group held several sessions and produced a draft that was validated before adoption.
“AI is here to stay. There is no way we can do away with AI anymore,” Ka said, adding that the priority was for electoral commissions to determine how best to deploy the technology.
He said the next phase would focus on implementation across member states, with commissions expected to share experiences and adopt approaches suited to their electoral environments.
Ka commended INEC for hosting the delegation and noted that Nigeria’s experience offered opportunities for knowledge-sharing.
In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said regional cooperation was key to strengthening electoral institutions and promoting credible elections in West Africa.
Amupitan said electoral commissions in the region faced common challenges, including electoral technology, results management, voter education, security and dispute resolution.
He described ECONEC as a platform for sharing experiences and developing solutions to improve democratic governance.
“No electoral commission has a monopoly on knowledge or experience. We all have valuable lessons to share and much to learn from one another,” he said.
The INEC chairman said preparations for the 2027 general elections required institutional readiness, legal certainty, transparency and effective coordination among stakeholders.
He listed the ongoing preparations as including efforts to ensure a credible voter register, procure and test electoral materials and technology in a timely manner, and train personnel.
He said the commission was strengthening engagement with political parties, civil society, the media and security agencies.
Amupitan also said INEC was learning from the experiences of other countries, citing its participation in the ECONEC Post-Election Follow-up and Needs Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone from 19 to 26 September 2026.
He said the mission underscored the link between electoral reforms and political trust ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2028 general elections.
He added that the mission had also noted a constitutional question concerning the interpretation of the two-thirds majority requirement for constitutional amendments in Sierra Leone, which had been referred to the country’s Supreme Court.
Amupitan called for stronger cooperation among ECONEC members in areas such as technology, results transmission, logistics, risk assessment, training and voter education, as well as combating misinformation and promoting inclusive participation.