Electoral experts, media practitioners and institutional representatives have called for early intervention to tackle artificial intelligence driven misinformation, electoral violence and barriers to inclusive participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The stakeholders made the call during a monthly discussion organised by CEREDEMS Africa in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin and the Institute of Geopolitical Communications at RUDN University, Russia.
The meeting, held on October 13, 2026, examined emerging electoral threats and presented findings from the September 2026 Electoral Intelligence Report, which identified information integrity, security concerns and electoral risk distribution as critical issues requiring urgent attention.
Participants identified the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos as major centres of electoral risk and information dissemination, urging relevant authorities to develop targeted prevention strategies for vulnerable locations.
A major concern was the growing use of artificial intelligence to generate and circulate misleading political content capable of manipulating public opinion, undermining trust in electoral institutions and influencing voter behaviour.
Mustafa Lawal of Fact Check Africa stressed the importance of identifying AI generated content, particularly material designed to portray political actors favourably while concealing relevant facts. The stakeholders also called for transparency and accountability in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s deployment of artificial intelligence and related technologies.
Professor Desmond Okucha of Bingham University and other contributors emphasised the need to strengthen information literacy, particularly among young Nigerians who increasingly rely on digital platforms for political information.
Political parties were urged to educate their supporters on the dangers of spreading false information, while media organisations were encouraged to uphold balanced, non-partisan reporting and strengthen their financial independence from political interests.
On electoral justice, participants called for grievances to be resolved within the timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act, warning that delays could heighten tensions and weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
They also advocated independent security operations, adequate training for security personnel and accountability for electoral offences as measures to prevent violence before, during and after the elections.
The meeting further highlighted the need to remove barriers to participation for women, young people, persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons. Participants called for practical assessments of accessibility requirements at polling units and stronger public education on electoral rights and responsibilities.
The National Orientation Agency was identified as a key institution in nationwide voter education, with a planned campaign expected to begin on Thursday and extend across Nigeria’s 36 states and local governments in collaboration with INEC.
The stakeholders also called for increased government funding and timely budget releases to sustain civic education and community engagement ahead of the polls.
As part of its follow up efforts, CEREDEMS Africa said it would share the September report’s findings with government agencies and relevant stakeholders to support early warning and preventive measures. The organisation also plans to hold its next monthly discussion in the first week of November.
The meeting concluded with a call for government institutions, political parties, security agencies, the judiciary, media organisations and civil society groups to take collective responsibility for protecting electoral integrity and ensuring peaceful and inclusive participation in the 2027 general elections.