INEC Holds ICT Workshop on Development of Artificial Intelligence Framework in Lagos

March 18, 2026, Lagos, Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a strategic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) workshop focused on developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulatory Framework to guide the Commission’s adoption of emerging technologies in electoral administration.

The workshop, which began on Monday, March 16, 2026, in Lagos, brought together Directors, Heads of ICT Departments from state offices, technical experts, development partners, and other key stakeholders within the Commission.

In his welcome remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami—represented by the Administrative Secretary, Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi—described the workshop as timely and strategic. He noted that rapid technological advancements are reshaping governance systems globally, with Election Management Bodies increasingly adopting innovative tools to enhance efficiency, transparency, and credibility.

The REC reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to technological innovation, highlighting milestones such as biometric voter registration, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), all of which have strengthened transparency, accountability, and public trust in the electoral process.

He further disclosed that at its meeting on May 22, 2025, the Commission approved the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department, reflecting its recognition of AI’s growing role in improving institutional efficiency and enabling data-driven decision-making.

While outlining the potential benefits of AI in areas such as predictive planning, logistics coordination, risk monitoring, and large-scale data analysis, the REC cautioned that its adoption also raises critical concerns, particularly around ethical governance, data protection, and information integrity. He stressed the importance of developing a robust framework to ensure responsible deployment.

“This workshop provides a platform for stakeholders to contribute to the development of a comprehensive AI Framework that will define governance structures, ethical standards, and operational integration within the Commission’s ICT architecture,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director of ICT described the workshop as a major milestone in INEC’s technological advancement and a key step toward institutionalising AI governance. He noted that while the Commission has consistently leveraged technology to strengthen electoral integrity, Artificial Intelligence represents a new frontier requiring deliberate planning and strong regulatory oversight.

According to him, AI holds significant promise for improving electoral administration through enhanced data analytics, logistics forecasting, voter information services, disinformation detection, and decision-support systems. However, he emphasized that these opportunities must be guided by sound governance frameworks to address ethical, legal, and operational risks.

He added that participants will, during the workshop, examine AI fundamentals, review lessons from past initiatives, explore the Commission’s AI roadmap, and collaboratively develop a draft regulatory framework to guide its application in Nigeria’s electoral processes.