NEWS
INEC Flags 268 Voter Records Over Suspected AI-Generated Photos, Other Irregularities Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has flagged 268 records in its preliminary Register of Voters over suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities, raising fresh questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s voter registration database ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission disclosed that its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) had identified the questionable records for further examination as part of an ongoing effort to sanitise the register, remove fraudulent entries and ensure that only legitimate voter records are retained.
INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, made the disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that the commission had commenced a detailed review of the flagged records.
“What we are currently doing now is looking at all these 268 records that ABIS already flagged as AI-generated or even something of irregularities,” he said.
According to Bayode, preliminary findings indicate that some individuals may have exploited weaknesses in the registration process, particularly a special registration arrangement intended to accommodate persons with disabilities who have incomplete fingers or no fingers.
The special registration option was designed to ensure that eligible Nigerians with such physical conditions could register and participate in elections without being unfairly excluded because of their biometric limitations.
However, the ICT director suggested that the provision may have been exploited by individuals seeking to create questionable voter profiles, prompting the commission to investigate how the irregularities occurred and determine the appropriate corrective measures.
Bayode confirmed that the process of removing records established to be irregular was already underway.
“Those that we have seen, we are cleaning up,” Bayode said.
He, however, clarified that the use of artificial intelligence to enhance an otherwise genuine photograph would not automatically disqualify a registered voter.
According to him, the commission is distinguishing between photographs of real individuals that have been enhanced using AI-powered applications and images generated entirely by artificial intelligence.
“Those that we know it is the AI on the phone that helped enhance their pictures, we can’t exclude such people because it was the AI on the phone that does that.
“Such people will still be on the register but those AI-generated, those photographs, all these will be removed. We are already looking at them,” he said.
The clarification suggests that INEC’s review will focus on establishing the authenticity of the photographs and the validity of the associated voter records rather than indiscriminately removing entries simply because artificial intelligence was used to process an image.
The controversy erupted after INEC published its preliminary Register of Voters on its website on October 26, triggering widespread reactions when screenshots of suspicious photographs attached to voter records began circulating on social media.
Some of the images reportedly raised concerns about possible AI manipulation, particularly in parts of Edo State, prompting Nigerians to question the effectiveness of the commission’s verification procedures.
Beyond the suspected AI-generated photographs, the publication also generated complaints about alleged duplicate registrations, the appearance of deceased persons’ names in the register and claims by some registered voters that their details were missing from the online database.
The concerns have since attracted reactions from political leaders, civil society advocates and other stakeholders, many of whom have called on INEC to provide a comprehensive explanation of the anomalies and demonstrate that the electoral register can be trusted ahead of the next general elections.
Among those who have demanded a more transparent investigation is the Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who called for an independent examination of the allegations and the publication of the findings.
Kwankwaso said Nigerians deserved more than assurances from the electoral commission, insisting that anyone found responsible for deliberately compromising the voter registration process should be held accountable under the law.
“While I welcome INEC’s decision to investigate the matter, but Nigerians deserve more than assurances. The investigation must be thorough, transparent and independent (outside of INEC’s internal affairs), with its findings made public and any individuals found culpable held accountable in accordance with the law,” he said.
He also called for the verification of questionable entries and investigations into possible duplicate or artificial identities, stressing the importance of protecting eligible voters from disenfranchisement while ensuring that illegitimate records do not undermine the credibility of future elections.
Political economist Pat Utomi also expressed concern over the development, warning that the presence of suspected AI-generated photographs in the register raised fundamental questions about the commission’s verification mechanisms, transparency and accountability.
In a post on X, Utomi stressed that the credibility of the electoral process was too important to be compromised by avoidable administrative or technological lapses.
“INEC cannot afford to be careless with the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process. The presence of AI-generated images in a register meant to support our democracy raises serious questions about verification, transparency and accountability. Our democracy is at stake here!”
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Moses Paul, called on INEC to explain how the suspected AI-generated images entered a database intended to safeguard the country’s democratic process.
“OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER THREAT! INEC must explain how AI-generated images found their way into a register meant to protect our electoral process. Who verified these records, and who is accountable?” he wrote.
Paul maintained that the commission needed to address the controversy openly, warning that silence or secrecy could deepen public suspicion and weaken confidence in democratic institutions.
The Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, also questioned the credibility of the voter register, warning that unresolved irregularities could cast a shadow over preparations for the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Nwankwo raised concerns about the reported increase in the number of registered voters from more than 90 million to approximately 103 million, questioning the accuracy of the figures and the verification procedures used to establish the database.
He pointed to the growing challenges posed by emerging technology and the possibility of fabricated information being introduced into official records.
“Technology has of course come forward, and now what we see is what is now referred to as AI-generated information and photographs that have been inserted into the voter register.”
Nwankwo argued that INEC needed to strengthen its communication with political parties and provide clearer information about the safeguards being implemented to protect the electoral process.
He also warned that weaknesses in voter registration and polling unit transfer procedures could prevent eligible Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote if the problems were not adequately addressed before the elections.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the importance of maintaining an accurate and credible voter register, which serves as a fundamental component of the electoral process by determining who is eligible to participate in elections.
A register containing fraudulent or duplicate entries could raise concerns about the reliability of electoral figures, while errors that exclude legitimate voters could undermine public confidence and deny citizens their right to participate in choosing their leaders.
INEC had earlier defended its decision to publish the preliminary register, explaining that the online version released on October 26 was the same document physically displayed at Registration Areas across the country between October 9 and 15.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission explained that the online publication did not reflect the entirety of the data-cleaning and verification exercises already in progress.
The commission emphasised that the preliminary register was not the final certified document, noting that the Display, Claims and Objections exercise was specifically designed to allow members of the public to identify errors, report suspicious entries and request corrections before the register is certified.
Under the process, eligible voters and other concerned members of the public have an opportunity to draw attention to inaccuracies that may otherwise remain undetected, enabling the commission to investigate complaints and improve the reliability of the database.
INEC also stated that it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and would take appropriate action based on verified findings.
The Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, has similarly confirmed that the commission is examining the affected records and will implement corrective measures once the necessary verification has been completed.
The latest development comes at a critical stage in preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the credibility of the voter register expected to play a significant role in shaping public confidence in the electoral process.
As the commission works to address the concerns, stakeholders are expected to closely monitor whether the investigation produces clear answers about how the questionable records entered the database, the extent of the irregularities and the measures being introduced to prevent a recurrence.
INEC is expected to complete the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup exercises before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
The outcome of the exercise will be crucial in determining whether the commission can resolve the controversy, reassure Nigerians about the integrity of its registration system and strengthen confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.