INEC BVAS | File photo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has created an artificial intelligence (AI) division under its information and communication technology (ICT) department.
A statement on Thursday by Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman information and voter education committee, said the decision followed a recent meeting.
Olumekun said during the meeting, officials discussed the increasing relevance of AI to elections and electoral activities in Nigeria and across the world.
He said the commission recently attended several conferences with colleagues around the continent on the impact of AI on elections.
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“These interactions were not only motivated by the concern over the use of AI to spread fake news or manipulate content online but also to utilise its benefits for data-driven decision-making, risk detection, and mitigation, deepening voter services automation and geospatial intelligence in support of logistic optimisation for better material distribution and polling unit allocation,” the statement reads.
The commissioner said INEC has consequently approved the creation of an AI Division under the ICT department “to continue to harness the positive aspects of AI and mitigate its negative impact on elections”.
“The Division will enable the Commission to better coordinate and maximise existing technology investments through centralised AI governance,” he added.
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“It will also enhance decision-making through data-driven insights, risk management, and voter engagement. Furthermore, it will strengthen electoral credibility through predictive analytics, automation, and intelligent safeguards.
“This initiative puts the Commission in the forefront of institutionalising AI capabilities within our ICT infrastructure. It is also an important step in our ongoing reform of the electoral process in areas that only require administrative action by the Commission.”
