In a significant move to bolster Nigeria's electoral process, Rise Networks, in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Meta, Google, Microsoft, and several other organizations, has officially launched the #AI4Elections Hackathon. This initiative seeks to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to address various challenges faced during elections, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The hackathon is a national, multidisciplinary, and nonpartisan effort that invites technology developers, researchers, university students, electoral experts, civil society organizations, and innovators to collaborate on creating AI-powered tools to enhance electoral integrity. The initiative is supported by notable institutions including the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), and several universities.

Applications for the hackathon opened on October 22, 2026, and will close on November 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. West African Time. The competition will run until February 2027, culminating in a grand finale and innovation showcase scheduled for December 16 in Lagos. This initiative builds on Rise Networks' previous experience with the Run-Am application, which was used to combat misinformation during the 2023 elections.

Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the founder of Rise Networks, emphasized the importance of responsible AI innovation in her address at the launch. She stated, “Our ambition is not to introduce technology for technology’s sake. We are committed to promoting responsible AI innovation that respects the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, protects citizens’ rights, and prioritises transparency, privacy, and human oversight.”

The hackathon will focus on five key areas: trustworthy electoral information, electoral data analysis, inclusive and multilingual electoral technology, electoral cybersecurity, and election observation. Additionally, participants are encouraged to consider climate resilience and environmental innovation as an optional area of focus.

Dr. Lawrence Bayode highlighted the necessity of developing AI solutions that maintain electoral credibility, noting, “The question before us is no longer whether AI has a role to play in an election, but how we can harness its potential without compromising the integrity, transparency and credibility of the electoral process.”

Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Sade Dada, also spoke at the launch, outlining the company’s commitment to promoting reliable election information and combating misinformation. She mentioned Meta's “Remove, Reduce and Inform” strategy and the GovGuide Nigeria chatbot, which provides government information in multiple local languages.

The hackathon features a total cash prize pool of ₦10 million, with the overall winner receiving ₦4 million. The second and third place winners will take home ₦2.5 million and ₦1.5 million, respectively. Additionally, four special innovation awards worth ₦500,000 each will be given for outstanding contributions in various categories.

Rise Networks has also announced the establishment of an AI4Elections Development Hub to support the testing and refinement of promising solutions, alongside a Community of Practice to foster collaboration among participants and stakeholders beyond the competition.

The initiative is designed to ensure that any solutions developed do not support partisan technology or interfere with electoral administration. Participants are prohibited from unauthorized testing of live electoral systems, and any winning solution will require further approvals before deployment in elections.

Interested individuals can find more information and apply through the official hackathon website at ai4elections.risenetworks.org.