The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has flagged 268 voter registration records over suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities as it intensifies efforts to sanitise the voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that the commission’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) had identified the questionable entries for further investigation.
Bayode said the commission had commenced the process of reviewing and removing records confirmed to be fraudulent or affected by irregularities.
He, however, clarified that voters whose genuine photographs were merely enhanced using artificial intelligence applications would not automatically be disqualified.
According to him, the commission would distinguish between legitimate photographs improved with AI tools and images generated entirely through artificial intelligence, stressing that only records found to be irregular would be removed after the necessary checks.
The controversy erupted after INEC published its preliminary Register of Voters online on October 26, triggering widespread reactions over suspicious photographs attached to some voter records, particularly in parts of Edo State.
Concerns have also been raised over alleged duplicate registrations, entries bearing the names of deceased persons and complaints from registered voters who claimed their details were missing from the online register.
The development has prompted political leaders and civil society figures to demand a transparent investigation into the credibility of the electoral database.
Former Kano State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, called for an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, insisting that the commission should make its findings public and hold anyone found responsible accountable.
Political economist Pat Utomi also expressed concern, warning that the appearance of suspected AI-generated images in the voters’ register raised serious questions about INEC’s verification procedures and accountability mechanisms.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Moses Paul, demanded explanations from the electoral body, questioning how the questionable photographs entered a database intended to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.
Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, also raised concerns about the credibility of the register, including questions surrounding the reported increase in registered voters and the effectiveness of the commission’s verification processes.
INEC has maintained that the published register is preliminary and does not reflect all the data-cleaning exercises already underway.
The commission explained that the document was the same preliminary register displayed physically at registration areas nationwide between October 9 and 15 to allow members of the public to identify errors, report suspicious entries and request corrections.
The electoral body is expected to complete its verification and data-cleaning exercise before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
With preparations for the 2027 general elections gathering momentum, the commission faces growing pressure to demonstrate that the voters’ register is accurate, transparent and free from manipulation.
