The Chairman of The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan has identified convergence of social media volatility, the weaponisation of AI-driven disinformation, Foreign Information Manipulation (FIMI) and logistic deficit ahead of the 2027 elections.
He added that when these digital threats intersect with physical challenges like insurgency and communal strife, the trust deficit widens.
Amupitan said it is through collective responsibility that this gap could be closed with surgical precision.
The chairman disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the 2nd annual Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) with the theme: “Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria.”
He stressed that in the journey toward democratic consolidation, they must move past the notion that elections and security are parallel tracks.
Amupitan stated: “The interplay between election integrity and national security is profound; one sustains the other. To have a peaceful, secure, and prosperous nation, the credibility of our elections cannot be compromised.
“In Nigeria, our electoral system has faced numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermine the confidence of the electorate.
“These challenges not only affect the outcome of elections but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve.
“We meet at a critical juncture following the Commission’s recent release of the Notice of Election for the 2027 general election.
“With the Presidential and National Assembly elections set for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027, this roadmap is no longer just an administrative timeline; it is a security trigger.
“Today, Nigeria faces a sophisticated triad of electoral challenges: the convergence of social media volatility, the weaponisation of AI-driven disinformation, Foreign Information Manipulation (FIMI) and logistic deficit.
“When these digital threats intersect with physical challenges like insurgency and communal strife, the trust deficit widens. It is our collective responsibility to close this gap with surgical precision- hence the importance of this lecture.”
Amupitan pointed out that they must recognise that credible elections foster public trust in governance, and this trust is crucial for national security.
He was of the opinion that when citizens believe in the electoral process, they are more likely to accept the outcomes, reducing the tensions that can lead to unrest.
“Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as stakeholders—INEC, security agencies, civil society, and the electorate—to collaborate in fortifying the systems that underpin our elections,” Amupitan noted