ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established an Artificial Intelligence Division aimed at boosting its ability to make data-driven decisions, improve risk detection and mitigation, and advance automation in voter services.
The announcement was made by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, following the commission’s regular weekly meeting, where discussions included the growing impact of AI on electoral processes both locally and globally.
The newly formed AI Division, situated within the ICT Department, is expected to support geo-spatial intelligence for optimizing logistics, including material distribution and polling unit allocation. It is also designed to enhance decision-making through data insights, support risk management, and deepen voter engagement. The division will further strengthen electoral transparency through predictive analytics, automation, and intelligent security features.
Olumekun noted that INEC has participated in several international conferences focused on AI and its influence on elections. These engagements, he said, have highlighted both the risks associated with AI—such as misinformation and content manipulation—and its potential to transform election planning and administration.
The initiative, according to him, is intended to consolidate the commission’s technology infrastructure through centralized AI oversight. It also marks a significant step in INEC’s ongoing reforms that focus on administrative improvements within the electoral process.
