Jega Calls on INEC to Adopt AI Chatbots to Tackle Electoral Misinformation
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has called on the Commission to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots to provide voters with accurate electoral information and tackle the spread of misinformation and disinformation during elections.
Jega made the call while delivering his opening remarks at a National Summit on AI, FIMI and Electoral Information Integrity, organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), under the theme, “Safeguarding Electoral Information Integrity in the Age of AI.”
He said adopting AI-powered chatbots would enable Election Management Bodies (EMBs), particularly across Africa, to provide citizens with timely, credible and verified information, while reducing the harmful effects of misleading electoral narratives.
The former INEC chairman recalled participating in the 2024 Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, where discussions centred on the importance of election management institutions embracing chatbot technology to provide authoritative information and address electoral misinformation.
According to him, some Election Management Bodies in Africa have already started exploring the technology as part of efforts to protect electoral information integrity.
Jega noted that INEC could leverage AI-powered platforms to respond to frequently asked questions, provide verified electoral updates and strengthen public confidence in information released by the Commission.
“To the best of my knowledge, the Commission has yet to fully deploy such a platform, and I believe it would be a useful subject for consideration during our discussions,” he said.
He further explained that the responsible application of AI could strengthen Nigeria’s electoral information management system and help citizens distinguish authentic information from false reports circulating during elections.
Jega also challenged participants at the summit to move beyond theoretical discussions and develop practical, specific and actionable recommendations that would protect the technology community and the AI ecosystem for present and future generations.
He commended academics, research institutions, development partners and media practitioners for their contributions towards improving the credibility and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Describing the summit as an important platform for advancing discussions on technology and democracy, he expressed optimism that its deliberations would produce meaningful recommendations for the responsible use of emerging technologies in strengthening democratic institutions.
