The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) has approved a regional framework to guide the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in elections across West Africa, as electoral bodies seek to protect democratic integrity amid growing technological influence.
The Permanent Secretary of ECONEC and Head of the Electoral Assistance Division at the ECOWAS Commission, Serigne Ka, disclosed this on Tuesday during a visit by the network’s delegation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Ka said the guidelines were developed to safeguard democratic processes across the sub-region as the use of AI expands in public administration and electoral activities.
ECOWAS Develops Regional AI Framework
According to Ka, the framework was finalised at a two-day validation meeting involving information technology experts and electoral officials in Abuja.
The meeting followed recommendations from the ECONEC Symposium held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025, where participants identified the need for a regional approach to regulating AI in electoral processes.
He described the framework as necessary, noting that AI had become an irreversible reality in modern administration.
Ka, who represented ECONEC Chair Abdoulaye Sylla, said a specialised working group was established after the Dakar symposium in 2025 to develop the proposed regulatory framework.
He also called on the international community to support efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the guidelines across ECOWAS member states.
INEC Highlights AI, Cybersecurity in Elections
Responding to the delegation, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan commended ECONEC for providing a platform for electoral management bodies in the region to exchange knowledge, strengthen institutions and address shared challenges.
Amupitan emphasised the need to integrate AI and cybersecurity measures into electoral administration to protect electoral infrastructure, strengthen public confidence and improve services for voters.
He said sustaining democracy in West Africa depended on strategically independent and professionally managed electoral institutions that uphold the rule of law.
The INEC chairman added that political parties, the judiciary, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and citizens also had important roles to play in sustaining democratic governance.
INEC Pledges Regional Cooperation
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s readiness to support other electoral management bodies across the sub-region through the exchange of technical expertise, joint post-election assessments and institutional cooperation.
He said such collaboration would help electoral institutions maintain democratic standards across West Africa.
The regional AI guidelines are expected to provide a framework for electoral bodies to address the opportunities and challenges associated with artificial intelligence while protecting the credibility of electoral processes.
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