INEC Traces AI-Generated Voter Photos, Irregularities to Registration Officers With Database Access

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has traced the appearance of suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other questionable records in its preliminary Register of Voters to alleged irregularities introduced by some registration officers who had access to the commission’s registration system.

The disclosure has raised fresh concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s voter registration process ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the electoral body acknowledging that some of its personnel allegedly introduced irregularities into the database.

INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, made this known on Friday during an appearance on Arise Television, where he explained how the commission uncovered suspicious entries in the preliminary register.

According to Bayode, some registration officers across different states allegedly used their authorised login credentials to introduce questionable records into the system, resulting in the appearance of photographs and other registration details that failed to meet the required standards. He stressed that the irregularities were not attributable to all registration officers but involved some personnel operating across the country.

“We have registration officers on the field. And these registration officers, they have login details to log into the system.

“So what we have found is that some of these registration officers, not all of them now, some of them across the states nationwide, they’ve done different things to bring these irregularities onto the register,” Bayode said.

The ICT director explained that the commission discovered the questionable records through its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), a technological platform used to analyse voter registration data and identify inconsistencies within the database. The system helped INEC identify suspicious entries, including photographs suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence, as well as records arising from poor registration practices.

Bayode clarified that not all the questionable photographs were AI-generated, noting that some resulted from inadequate registration procedures that allowed unacceptable images to enter the database.

“Some of these pictures are AI-generated. Some of them not AI-generated, but very bad registration. And this thing got into the register by the registration officers and because they have access to register people,” he said.

His explanation suggests that the concerns surrounding the preliminary register extend beyond the use of artificial intelligence, raising questions about compliance with registration procedures and the effectiveness of safeguards designed to ensure that only valid and properly documented records are accepted.

Bayode further disclosed that the commission had identified the affected records and established how some of the irregularities were introduced. However, he admitted that the reasons behind the alleged actions of the officers involved remained unclear to him.

“When the ABIS was run on the system, we saw these people.

“We know what they did. We know how they did it.

“But honestly, I don’t know why,” he added.

The disclosure comes amid growing public scrutiny of INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters following the circulation of screenshots showing suspicious photographs attached to voter records on the commission’s website.

The controversy intensified after INEC uploaded the preliminary register online on October 26, prompting social media users and members of the public to question the authenticity of some entries.

As previously reported by The PUNCH, screenshots circulating online showed photographs suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence attached to voter records in parts of Edo State. The images sparked concerns about the possibility of fabricated or improperly documented voter records finding their way into the electoral database.

Beyond the suspected AI-generated photographs, other concerns raised by members of the public included alleged duplicate entries and complaints from some registered voters who claimed that their details were missing from the online register. The issues have placed renewed attention on the processes INEC uses to compile, verify and maintain its voter database, particularly as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.

Bayode said the commission had been working to sanitise the register even before making the preliminary version available to the public. He also pointed to the pressure of completing the extensive verification and correction exercise within the statutory 90-day period.

INEC had earlier clarified that the online register was the same preliminary register physically displayed at Registration Areas nationwide between October 9 and 15 as part of the Display, Claims and Objections exercise. The exercise was designed to allow registered voters and other stakeholders to inspect the records, identify errors, report omissions and raise objections to questionable entries before the commission certifies the final register.

In a statement issued on October 27, the electoral commission acknowledged that some questionable records had been identified and flagged during the physical display exercise. It said a review and corrective process had commenced to address the identified irregularities, while emphasising that the register published online was not the final certified version.

INEC also explained that the online publication did not represent the completion of all ongoing verification and data-cleanup activities, indicating that further checks would be undertaken before the final register is approved. The commission is expected to conclude its verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.

The latest revelations place the spotlight on the responsibility of registration officers and the effectiveness of INEC’s internal controls in protecting the integrity of the electoral database.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the commission faces the task of resolving the identified irregularities, addressing public concerns and ensuring that the final register accurately reflects eligible voters.

The outcome of the cleanup exercise will be closely watched by political parties, civil society organisations and Nigerians concerned about the credibility, transparency and reliability of the country’s electoral process.