The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified the growing threat of election-related disinformation and deepfakes as areas requiring greater attention ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Acting INEC Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, raised the concerns on Tuesday when a Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission of the African Union (AU) visited the Commission.
The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s level of preparedness for the 2027 elections and identify areas where additional technical support may be required.
Gumus said INEC had already commenced operational, technological and logistical preparations for the elections, but noted that emerging challenges in the digital space required stronger institutional capacity.
She specifically identified countering election-related disinformation and deepfakes, digital training for ad hoc election personnel, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving gender inclusion as areas where AU assistance would be valuable.
The Acting Chairman described the AU mission as an opportunity for institutional learning and peer assessment, stressing that its findings could help strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system and public confidence ahead of the polls.
According to her, lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun would also inform preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Gumus reaffirmed INEC’s independence and neutrality, assuring that the Commission would operate strictly within the law.
She said technological deployments would be designed to promote transparency, while the final outcome of the 2027 elections would reflect the will of Nigerian voters.
The AU delegation said its assessment would cover several critical areas, including voter registration and the integrity of the voters’ register, election technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
The mission also emphasised that its engagement with Nigeria was supportive and consultative, with the objective of identifying risks and gaps while exploring areas for possible technical assistance.
Gumus further stressed that credible elections could not be achieved by INEC alone, describing electoral integrity as a shared responsibility involving political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and voters.
The engagement comes as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, with INEC seeking to strengthen the electoral process against both traditional operational challenges and emerging threats in the digital information environment.
