Nigeria’s election chief has met with global tech executives and international monitoring bodies in Canada to bolster the country’s cybersecurity and explore the use of artificial intelligence ahead of the 2027 general election.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), held high-level talks with representatives from Microsoft and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) on the sidelines of the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections in Ottawa.
The move comes as electoral bodies worldwide face growing challenges from sophisticated cyber attacks, deepfakes, and online disinformation aimed at undermining democratic processes.
At the meeting with Microsoft, Prof. Amupitan discussed emerging technology and cyber resilience with Ethan Chumley, the firm’s Emerging Tech and Cyber Lead, and Programme Manager Ariana Molina. Discussions focused on safeguarding digital infrastructure and deploying responsible AI to secure election logistics and data verification.
In a separate session, the INEC chief met with Dr Lisa Poggiali, Chief AI Advisor at IFES, to discuss frameworks for integrating artificial intelligence into electoral administration while mitigating potential risks.
Accompanying the chairman was INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode.
Speaking at the Ottawa summit, which runs from 9 to 11 September, Prof. Amupitan shared Nigeria’s recent experiences in adopting digital systems for voter management and results transmission, emphasizing the need for international standards to protect electoral integrity.
INEC has increasingly relied on digital infrastructure in recent general elections, introducing biometric verification systems and real-time portal uploads for polling unit results. However, previous polls highlighted the need for stronger technological resilience and protection against system failures and security breaches.
The commission says its proactive engagement with tech giants and international partners aims to build a more transparent, secure, and resilient framework well ahead of the 2027 polls.
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