RISE Networks has launched an artificial intelligence initiative to develop technology-driven solutions for electoral transparency, misinformation and citizen accountability ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The AI4Elections Hackathon will bring together software developers, journalists, election experts, researchers and technology specialists to build practical tools addressing challenges that could undermine the credibility of elections.

The initiative was unveiled at a World Press Conference and Ecosystem Roundtable in Abuja, where Toyosi Akerele, founder of RISE Networks, said the programme would focus on applying artificial intelligence to strengthen electoral processes and improve access to reliable election-related information.

The initiative comes as electoral institutions and technology stakeholders explore ways to address misinformation, improve election administration and protect the integrity of electoral information ahead of the 2027 polls.

Akerele identified five priority areas for the hackathon: trustworthy electoral information, electoral data analysis, inclusive and multilingual civic technology, cybersecurity, and election observation and citizen accountability.

The areas are designed to encourage the development of tools that help citizens access accurate information, improve the analysis of election-related data and strengthen public oversight of the electoral process.

The programme is supported by Meta, Microsoft and Google, alongside the MacArthur Foundation and Luminate, bringing technology companies and development organisations into efforts to address Nigeria’s electoral challenges.

Beyond the hackathon, RISE Networks plans to establish an Elections Development Hub and a Community of Practice to support research, innovation and collaboration among stakeholders working on electoral technology.

The initiative’s organisers say the approach will provide a platform for technology professionals and other stakeholders to develop solutions that respond to practical problems affecting electoral transparency and participation.

However, the programme will operate under restrictions designed to protect existing electoral infrastructure. Akerele said participants would not be permitted to interfere with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) systems and would be required to use synthetic datasets during the hackathon.

The safeguards are intended to allow participants to develop and test their solutions without accessing sensitive electoral information or disrupting the commission’s operational systems.

RISE Networks describes itself as a non-partisan organisation committed to promoting credible elections through the responsible application of artificial intelligence.

The initiative also aligns with INEC’s efforts to explore the use of AI in electoral administration, including voter information, electoral data management, operational efficiency and the detection of misinformation.

Lawrence Bayode, INEC’s director of information and communication technology, disclosed at the event that the commission had established an Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and was developing a framework to guide the responsible application of the technology.

Bayode said the commission was examining how AI could improve its operations and the management of election-related information.

He also revealed that INEC was deploying intelligent document-processing technology to digitise polling-unit result sheets and identify inconsistencies before the results were transmitted.

The technology is expected to support the commission’s efforts to improve the handling of result sheets and strengthen the identification of discrepancies during election administration.

The developments point to growing interest in using AI to improve electoral processes, although the effectiveness of such tools will depend on their accuracy, transparency and integration with established safeguards.

AI also presents challenges for election management, particularly as the same technology can be used to generate misleading content, impersonate public figures and spread false information. This makes reliable verification systems and public access to trustworthy information important components of election preparedness.

For the AI4Elections Hackathon, the challenge will be to translate technical ideas into practical solutions that citizens and relevant institutions can use to improve electoral transparency without compromising data security or the independence of existing election systems.

The hackathon is expected to strengthen collaboration among citizens, technology experts, researchers and electoral authorities while promoting wider participation in the development of election-related technology.