Deploy AI Chatbots for Credible Electoral Information, Jega Advises INEC
Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to embrace Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbots as a tool for combating electoral misinformation and improving voters’ access to credible information.
Jega gave the advice at a National Summit on AI, FIMI and Electoral Information Integrity (Beyond the Ballot), organised by the International Press Centre (IPC).
The summit, themed “Safeguarding Electoral Information Integrity in the Age of AI,” brought stakeholders together to examine the growing influence of emerging technologies on electoral processes and democratic institutions.
Speaking at the event, Jega said AI chatbots could help election management bodies provide citizens with accurate, timely and authoritative information, particularly during election periods when misinformation and disinformation often spread rapidly.
He referenced discussions at the 2024 Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, where the adoption of chatbot technology by election management institutions was identified as an effective means of addressing information gaps and providing reliable electoral guidance.
The former INEC boss observed that some electoral management bodies in Africa had already begun exploring the technology to minimise the impact of false and misleading information.
He, however, expressed the view that INEC should give serious consideration to adopting a similar system.
According to Jega, the Commission could deploy AI-powered chatbots to answer citizens’ questions, disseminate verified electoral information and improve public trust in its communication channels.
“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 stated.
He maintained that the appropriate use of AI would enhance Nigeria’s electoral information management framework and give voters greater confidence in the authenticity of information available to them.
Jega also urged participants to ensure that the summit produced concrete recommendations rather than ending with discussions alone.
He stressed the importance of developing practical measures to safeguard the technology community and ensure that the AI ecosystem serves both current and future generations.
The former INEC chairman acknowledged the contributions of academics, research institutions, development partners and media professionals towards strengthening electoral credibility.
He expressed hope that the summit would generate useful ideas for promoting responsible technological innovation and reinforcing democratic institutions.
