The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have adopted guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electoral processes, as West African electoral bodies seek to strengthen election integrity and prepare for the growing influence of emerging technologies.
The guidelines were validated at a two-day meeting in Nigeria attended by electoral officials and information technology experts from across the West African sub-region.
The initiative followed the establishment of a working group at an ECONEC symposium held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025, which examined the role of AI in protecting electoral integrity.
Speaking during a visit by the ECONEC delegation to INEC, the organisation’s Permanent Secretary and Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division, Mr. Serigne Ka, said the guidelines were developed to address the growing role of AI in election administration and establish a common regional framework for its responsible use.
Ka explained that the previous symposium recommended setting up a working group to develop guidelines for applying AI in electoral processes. The group subsequently held several working sessions and produced a draft document, which was reviewed and validated before adoption.
“AI is here to stay. There is no way we can do away with AI anymore,” Ka said, stressing that electoral commissions must determine how best to manage and deploy the technology within their respective electoral systems.
He said the next phase would focus on implementing the guidelines across the sub-region, with member commissions expected to share practical experiences and develop approaches suited to their electoral environments.
Ka also thanked INEC for hosting the delegation, noting that Nigeria’s experience, including the commission’s existing work on AI, presented opportunities for knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration.
INEC Highlights Preparations for 2027 Elections
In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, stressed the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening electoral institutions and promoting credible elections across West Africa, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan said electoral commissions across the region faced common legal, institutional, political and operational challenges, including electoral technology, results management, voter education, electoral security and dispute resolution.
He described ECONEC as an important platform for electoral management bodies to exchange experiences, address shared challenges and develop practical solutions to improve democratic governance.
“No electoral commission has a monopoly on knowledge or experience. We all have valuable lessons to share and much to learn from one another,” he said.
The INEC chairman noted that Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 General Election required institutional readiness, legal certainty, transparency and effective coordination among electoral stakeholders.
He said the commission was working to ensure an accurate and reliable voters’ register, timely procurement and testing of electoral materials and technology, and the training of competent and impartial electoral personnel.
According to him, INEC is also strengthening engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and other stakeholders to address concerns promptly and promote transparent communication.
Amupitan further emphasised the need to intensify voter and civic education to improve public understanding of electoral procedures, encourage peaceful participation and promote the lawful resolution of grievances.
Sierra Leone Mission Offers Lessons on Electoral Reform
The INEC chairman also highlighted the importance of learning from electoral experiences in other West African countries, citing the commission’s participation in the ECONEC Post-Election Follow-up and Needs Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone from September 19 to 26, 2026.
According to Amupitan, the mission reinforced the relationship between electoral reforms and political trust.
He observed that although stakeholders acknowledged the need to strengthen Sierra Leone’s electoral framework ahead of its 2028 General Elections, concerns remained over the implementation of agreed recommendations and trust between the government and the main opposition party.
The mission also considered a constitutional question concerning the interpretation of the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments in Sierra Leone.
The matter had been referred to the country’s Supreme Court for an authoritative interpretation, and the mission refrained from taking a position.
Amupitan said the development underscored the importance of constitutional certainty, respect for judicial independence and the timely resolution of legal questions affecting electoral reforms.
INEC Seeks Stronger Regional Cooperation
Against this background, the INEC chairman called for stronger cooperation among ECONEC member commissions in electoral technology, results transmission, records management, election logistics, risk assessment, personnel training and preventive regulation of political parties.
He said closer collaboration in these areas would improve compliance and help reduce electoral disputes across the region.
Amupitan also advocated stronger partnerships on voter education, responsible media engagement, efforts to combat misinformation, electoral security and inclusive participation, particularly for vulnerable groups.
He further called for the institutionalisation of post-election reviews and follow-up missions to ensure that recommendations receive priority attention, implementation is monitored and technical assistance is aligned with identified needs.
The adoption of the AI guidelines marks a step towards a common regional approach to the use of emerging technologies in election administration, as West African electoral commissions seek to improve transparency, strengthen public confidence and address challenges facing democratic governance.
Share this
