The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Meta, Google, Microsoft and other technology and civil society organisations have launched an artificial intelligence hackathon aimed at tackling misinformation, cybersecurity threats and other challenges ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The initiative, known as the #AI4Elections Hackathon, is being spearheaded by Rise Networks in collaboration with the electoral commission, the technology companies and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, among other partners.
The programme seeks to bring together Nigerian software developers, researchers, students, technology entrepreneurs, electoral experts and civic innovators to develop AI-powered tools that could improve electoral transparency, protect election information and strengthen public participation.
According to the organisers, the competition will focus on five areas: trustworthy electoral information, data-driven decision-making, inclusive and multilingual civic technology, electoral cybersecurity, and election observation.
The initiative builds on the experience of Run-Am, an AI-powered misinformation detection and fact-checking mobile application developed for Nigeria’s 2023 elections.
Dr Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji of Rise Networks said participants would be expected to produce functional technological solutions capable of addressing real challenges in the electoral process.
The competition has a total cash prize pool of N10m, alongside cloud credits, laptops and other technology tools to support participants’ innovations.
Eligible Nigerians aged 18 and above can participate individually or in teams of up to four members. Applications opened on October 22 and will close on November 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. West African Time.
The programme will culminate in a national innovation showcase in Lagos on December 16, with promising solutions expected to receive further technical support.
The organisers said the initiative was nonpartisan and would prioritise responsible AI development, data privacy, human oversight and compliance with electoral laws.
The launch comes amid growing concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly disputes over access to the preliminary voters’ register.
See also: Why Meta Could Escape a Large Chunk of Its $25bn US Penalty
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on INEC to immediately publish the register online, alleging that voters could not access it during the commission’s announced public scrutiny period of October 9 to 15.
Atiku, in a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said the reported failure to make the register available had raised questions about transparency and the credibility of the electoral process.
Separately, Concerned Citizens for Nigerian Democracy has given INEC until October 30 to publish the preliminary register online or face legal action.
In a Freedom of Information request to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, the group argued that online publication was required under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
CCND said its attempt to access the commission’s voter registration website on October 21 was unsuccessful, with the page displaying a “Service temporarily unavailable” message.
The group warned that without public access to the register, citizens, political parties and election observers would find it difficult to identify duplicate entries, deceased voters or other irregularities before the election.
The #AI4Elections Hackathon is expected to provide a platform for developing technology-based responses to electoral challenges, although its organisers have emphasised that the solutions must operate within legal and ethical safeguards.
Interested applicants can find details and application guidelines at ai4elections.risenetworks.org.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
