EU and IPC warn of AI-driven disinformation for 2027 Nigerian elections

The threat to public trust

The European Union and the International Press Centre (IPC) have issued a joint warning regarding the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in Nigeria's 2027 elections. During a summit in Abuja, officials highlighted how deepfakes and generated disinformation could undermine the democratic process. The primary concern is that while technology can improve accessibility, it also lowers the barrier for creating convincing lies.

EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot noted that an election can be compromised without any physical ballots being changed. He explained that a single fabricated announcement can send voters to the wrong location or cause suspicion before verified facts can reach the public. The goal of these actors is to target the underlying trust that citizens place in their institutions.

The summit, themed "Beyond the Ballot," aimed to move the conversation toward safeguarding information integrity. Mignot emphasized that the task is broader than just identifying deepfakes. It requires creating an environment where reliable information is available and independent journalism can flourish without being overshadowed by manipulation.

Data on digital deception

The IPC provided specific data from the Nigeria Fact-Checkers Coalition to illustrate the scale of the problem. During the 2023 elections, 63 per cent of the presidential and national assembly claims reviewed were found to be entirely false. These inaccuracies spread rapidly, reaching secondary social media platforms in an average of just 11 minutes.

The reach of social media as a news source is particularly significant for the Nigerian electorate. Out of the country's 148 million internet users, a recent survey showed that 52 per cent rely on social media for political news. In the South-East region, that figure climbs to over 82 per cent, with many voters failing to verify the content they receive.

Dr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of the IPC, warned that new technologies like voice cloning and forged result sheets present dangerous challenges. He also noted that some people are now dismissing authentic evidence as being AI-generated. This creates a double-edged sword where real information is ignored while fake content remains influential.

Protecting democratic rights

A major priority for the EU and IPC is ensuring that efforts to fight misinformation do not become tools for censorship. Ambassador Mignot stressed that countering manipulation must never be used as a justification for silencing political criticism or suppressing inconvenient reporting. He argued that a citizen questioning an institution is not necessarily spreading misinformation, but rather performing a democratic function.

The EU stated it remains committed to supporting Nigerian-led solutions rather than dictating political outcomes. The focus is on building a prepared response where institutions communicate credibly and platforms explain their content decisions. This includes providing clear routes for review when content is flagged or removed by tech companies.

The ambassador urged that journalists must retain their editorial independence during this process. Fact-checkers should also remain free to reach their own conclusions without outside pressure. The goal is to balance the protection of electoral information with the protection of fundamental democratic rights and free speech.

Roadmap for 2027

The summit called for immediate action to prepare for the 2027 polls before the pressure of the election cycle begins. Mignot suggested that arrangements for verification contacts and public corrections should be tested now rather than on election day. He highlighted the need for early preparedness, local and international partnerships, and a capacity to address harmful content in local languages.

Dr. Arogundade urged stakeholders to move beyond simple declarations and establish a formal Electoral Information Integrity Response Protocol. He proposed the "Abuja Commitment" as an operational framework to help institutions anticipate threats and verify evidence. This coordinated system would involve security agencies, political parties, media organizations, and telecommunications operators.

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already announced a new AI unit, officials say more work is needed. They want to ensure that all systems and people are ready before voting begins. The objective is to create a trusted, rights-respecting system that can handle the evolving landscape of digital information.