By Jane Daniels
ABAKALIKI – Communication scholars, legal experts and academics have warned that the growing misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections if left unregulated.
The experts spoke at the Eminent Personalities Workshop organised by the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ASCPN), Ebonyi State at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI).
Keynote speaker and Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe, Prof. Ernest Ituma Egba, said while AI could improve voter education and election management, it could also be used to spread fake news, and manipulated images capable of misleading voters.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Uchenna Njoku, called for amendments to the Electoral Act to criminalise AI-related electoral offences and urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Celestine Affiukwa, AE-FUNAI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, stressed the need for responsible communication to strengthen public confidence in elections.
The event also featured awards of excellence, while Njoku awarded academic scholarships of ₦100,000 each to 10 outstanding students of AE-FUNAI and Ebonyi State University.
