By Kabiru Abbas
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions, ECONEC, have adopted a joint guideline on the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, in electoral processes as part of efforts to strengthen credible elections and safeguard democratic institutions in West Africa.
The framework was validated at the end of a two-day technical meeting held in Nigeria, which brought together chairpersons of electoral commissions, information technology experts and election administrators from across the ECOWAS sub-region.
The meeting was sequel to the resolution reached at the ECONEC symposium on AI and Election Integrity held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025, where participants agreed to set up a working group to develop a common regional standard for responsible deployment of AI in elections.
The new guidelines are expected to provide a roadmap for how electoral management bodies in West Africa can harness AI for voter registration, logistics, results management and voter education while mitigating risks of disinformation, deepfakes and algorithmic bias.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the ECONEC delegation to INEC headquarters in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary and Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, Mr. Serigne Ka, said the adoption of the document was a direct response to the fast-growing influence of emerging technologies in the electoral space.
According to him, the November 2025 Dakar symposium, which focused on AI and election integrity, had recommended the immediate establishment of a working group with a mandate to develop actionable guidelines for member states.
He disclosed that the working group held several technical sessions over the past months, produced a draft framework and subjected it to peer review and validation before its final adoption at the Nigeria meeting.
“AI is here to stay. There is no way we can do away with AI anymore,” Ka said.
He stressed that the question for election managers was no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to deploy it responsibly, ethically and transparently.
Ka noted that the next critical phase for ECONEC would be implementation, adding that member commissions are expected to adapt the guidelines to their national contexts and share lessons on practical deployment.
He said, “The priority now is how to manage and deploy the technology in our respective electoral systems in a way that enhances credibility rather than undermines it.”
Ka also commended INEC for hosting the validation exercise and for its leadership in advancing electoral technology in the region. He said Nigeria’s experience, including INEC’s ongoing work on AI integration, offers useful lessons for knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration.
In his remarks, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the adoption of the guidelines underscores the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening electoral institutions at a time Nigeria is preparing for the 2027 General Election.
Professor Amupitan said electoral commissions in West Africa face common challenges, ranging from legal and institutional reforms to electoral technology, results management, voter education, electoral security and dispute resolution.
He described ECONEC as a vital platform for peer learning and collective problem-solving.
“No electoral commission has a monopoly on knowledge or experience. We all have valuable lessons to share and much to learn from one another,” the INEC Chairman said.
The INEC boss noted that preparations for the 2027 General Election require institutional readiness, legal certainty, transparency and effective coordination among stakeholders.
He listed key priority areas for the Commission to include ensuring an accurate and reliable voters’ register, timely procurement and testing of electoral materials and technology, as well as training competent and impartial electoral personnel.
Amupitan added that INEC is strengthening engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and other stakeholders to address concerns promptly and promote transparent communication throughout the electoral cycle.
He further emphasized the need to intensify voter and civic education to improve public understanding of electoral procedures, encourage peaceful participation and promote lawful channels for resolving grievances.
According to him, the integration of AI must be accompanied by robust voter education to prevent manipulation and build public trust in the process.
The new AI guidelines are expected to provide ethical guardrails on issues such as data protection, algorithmic transparency, content authentication, responsible use of generative AI in campaigns and the protection of electoral infrastructure from cyber threats.
Some participants at the event who spoke to newsmen said the move by INEC and ECONEC is timely, coming ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 polls where AI-generated misinformation is projected to be a major challenge.
This adoption of the guidelines has made West Africa one of the first regions globally to develop a collective framework for responsible use of AI in elections, positioning its electoral commissions to leverage technology for efficiency while protecting the integrity of the ballot.