Abuja: A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Centre for Redefining Alternative Civic Engagement (RACE) for Africa, has unveiled an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled tracker to monitor online gender-based violence ahead of the 2027 general elections. Mrs Evelyn Ugbe, Executive Director of RACE, said at the launch on Friday that the platform would be used to track digital attacks against women, especially those participating in politics. She said the initiative was aimed at creating a safer online environment where women, including students, public office holders, and political aspirants, could participate freely without fear of harassment.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ugbe stated that, as the election year approaches, there is a foreseeable risk of online misinformation, disinformation, and gender-based attacks targeting women in politics. RACE’s election monitoring had shown that female politicians were often subjected to smear campaigns aimed at undermining their credibility and electoral chances. Ugbe highlighted findings from the 2025 Anambra governorship election, where the organisation documented online abuse against a female candidate who was cyberbullied, with AI-generated images circulated to ridicule and discredit her. These attacks diverted attention from the candidate’s manifesto and policy ideas to her appearance, with the intention of weakening women’s credibility and discouraging political participation.
Ugbe urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies to prioritise online gender-based violence during elections. She explained that the organisation previously manually documented cases of digital violence, recording just over 500 incidents. However, within three months of deploying the AI-powered tracker, RACE documented more than 20,000 cases of online gender-based violence across Africa. The technology was developed with local languages, keywords, and data to improve its ability to detect harmful online content within African communities. Ugbe added that the tracker would provide evidence to support advocacy, policy development, accountability, and victim protection.
Chief Superintendent of Corps Precious Samuel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) noted that victims of AI-generated abuse often withdraw from public life due to its emotional impact. She stated that the effects of such abuse extend beyond online platforms to victims’ homes, families, churches, and communities. Samuel remarked that the tracker marked a significant milestone, as it would provide credible data for engagement with social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram on addressing misuse of their platforms. With this tracker, they could present evidence showing the harm caused through these platforms and push for stronger accountability.
Mrs Emmanuella Azu, Regional Director of Expansion and Experience of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Africa, called on young Nigerians to actively participate in the country’s electoral process. Azu encouraged eligible voters not to treat the 2027 election as ‘business as usual’, urging them to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote. She emphasized that their vote is the hope for tomorrow, and participation is essential for a better Nigeria.