The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to enhance the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s electoral activities, aiming to revolutionize elections both domestically and globally. The decision was revealed following the Commission’s weekly meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
In a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC highlighted insights gained from recent conferences with African counterparts on AI’s transformative potential in elections. The Commission sees AI as a tool to improve data-driven decision-making, risk detection and mitigation, voter service automation, and geospatial intelligence for optimizing logistics, including material distribution and polling unit allocation.
To advance this initiative, INEC approved the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department. “The Division will enable the Commission to better coordinate and maximize existing technology investments through centralized AI governance,” the statement read. It will focus on enhancing decision-making with data-driven insights, improving risk management, and boosting voter engagement while strengthening electoral credibility through predictive analytics, automation, and intelligent safeguards.
“This initiative positions INEC at the forefront of institutionalizing AI capabilities within our ICT infrastructure,” Olumekun noted. “It marks a significant step in our ongoing electoral reforms, leveraging administrative actions to enhance the process.”
