Communication scholars, legal experts and academics have called for stronger regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), enhanced media literacy and ethical communication practices to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria's electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made during the Eminent Personalities Workshop organised by the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ASCPN), Ebonyi State Chapter, at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State, with the theme, "Communication, Artificial Intelligence and Credible Elections in Nigeria."
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe, Prof. Ernest Ituma Egba, described Artificial Intelligence as a transformative technology with enormous potential to improve voter education, election logistics, biometric verification, electoral data analysis and transparency in election administration.
He, however, warned that the same technology could be deployed to spread misinformation, deepfakes, AI-generated fake news, voice cloning, manipulated images and automated propaganda capable of undermining public confidence in Nigeria's democratic process.
According to him, technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections unless it is guided by integrity, transparency, accountability and responsible communication.
"Technology without integrity merely digitizes existing problems, while technology without transparency simply automates distrust," Prof. Egba said.
He stressed that communication and AI must complement one another, explaining that while AI improves efficiency and analytical capacity, communication builds understanding, trust and public confidence.
The university administrator urged communication scholars, journalists, policymakers, electoral management bodies, technology experts and civil society organisations to collaborate in promoting media literacy, fact-checking and the ethical application of artificial intelligence.
Prof. Egba also challenged Nigerian universities to establish Artificial Intelligence Research Centres, Digital Communication Laboratories, Election Technology Research Groups and Fact-Checking Units to develop home-grown technological solutions capable of addressing the country's democratic challenges.
Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, described the event as timely as Nigeria prepares for another electoral cycle.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Celestine Affiukwa, Nwachukwu said discussions on communication and electoral credibility were essential to strengthening democratic governance and rebuilding public trust in the nation's electoral system.
He urged students to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from accomplished scholars and professionals rather than seeking shortcuts to success.
The vice-chancellor cautioned against the growing obsession with quick wealth, citing the rise and eventual decline of the once-thriving Mgbuka Obosi spare-parts market as an illustration that temporary trends should not replace hard work, discipline and long-term career development.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Amaechi Nwali, described the workshop's theme as both timely and significant, noting that communication remains the foundation of every democratic society.
While acknowledging AI's enormous opportunities in voter education, election logistics and information dissemination, Nwali warned that the technology also presents serious risks through misinformation, fabricated content, automated propaganda and manipulation of public opinion.
He urged young scholars to undertake evidence-based research capable of strengthening transparency, accountability and electoral credibility in Nigeria.
Presenting the lead paper titled, "Combating AI-Generated Misinformation for Credible Elections in Nigeria," Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Uchenna Njoku, warned that AI-generated misinformation poses a major threat to Nigeria's 2027 general elections and called for urgent legal, institutional and public interventions to safeguard democracy.
According to Njoku, advances in generative AI have made it possible to create highly convincing fake speeches, images, videos and voice recordings capable of influencing millions of voters within minutes.
Drawing illustrations from the biblical account of Isaac, Jacob and Esau, as well as William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the legal practitioner said appearances have always been capable of deception but noted that AI has significantly amplified the challenge of distinguishing authentic content from fabricated materials.
He cited Slovakia's 2023 election, the 2024 United States presidential primary in New Hampshire and India's 2024 general elections as examples demonstrating the growing influence of artificial intelligence on political communication and electoral outcomes.
Njoku urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to resist being recruited to produce or disseminate false information for political purposes, stressing that existing laws, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the Cybercrimes Act, already provide sanctions for certain digital offences.
He also advocated comprehensive legislation specifically regulating artificial intelligence and recommended amendments to the Electoral Act to criminalise AI-generated electoral offences ahead of future elections.
The Senior Advocate further encouraged communication scholars and researchers to contribute to ongoing legislative efforts aimed at developing a robust legal framework for AI regulation in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, the National President of ASCPN, Prof. Rotimi Olatunji, said the workshop formed part of the association's efforts to deepen national conversations on digital innovation and its implications for governance, democracy and communication.
According to him, society has moved beyond the digital age into an era driven by artificial intelligence, making it imperative for governments, institutions and citizens to understand both the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.
He called for the responsible use of AI and stronger institutional safeguards to protect the credibility of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.
While noting that AI has enormous potential to drive development across Africa, Olatunji warned that it could equally threaten electoral integrity if left unchecked.
He therefore urged political leaders, public institutions and citizens to ensure that AI-generated content is properly verified before it is circulated or relied upon for political decision-making.
Also speaking, the National Vice-President of ASCPN for the South-East and South-South, Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude, and the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the association, Associate Prof. Joseph Chukwu, encouraged professionals, scholars and students of mass communication to take advantage of the association's programmes to enhance their knowledge and professional competence.
The workshop featured the presentation of awards of excellence to distinguished personalities, while ten outstanding students of AE-FUNAI and Ebonyi State University received academic scholarships of ₦100,000 each, sponsored by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Uchenna Njoku.
