INEC flags 268 records over AI photos, irregularities

The Independent National Electoral Commission has flagged 268 records in its preliminary Register of Voters for suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities, as it begins a process to clean up the database ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that the Automated Biometric Identification System had identified the questionable records for further examination.

“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.

Bayode explained that some individuals allegedly exploited a special registration option designed for persons with disabilities who have incomplete fingers or no fingers to create questionable voter profiles.

He said the option, known as special registration, was among the loopholes allegedly exploited by those responsible for the irregularities detected by the system.

The ICT director said the commission had commenced the process of removing the affected records from the preliminary register.

“Those that we have seen, we are cleaning up,” Bayode said.

He, however, clarified that photographs enhanced with artificial intelligence would not automatically lead to the exclusion of affected voters, distinguishing between genuine photographs improved with AI 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 development followed the publication of INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters on its website on October 26, which triggered public outrage after screenshots circulated on social media showing suspicious photographs attached to voter records, particularly in parts of Edo State.

The controversy also generated concerns over alleged duplicate registrations, the appearance of names of deceased persons and complaints by some registered voters that their details were missing from the online register.

The concerns attracted reactions from political leaders, civil society figures and other Nigerians, who questioned the credibility of the registration process and demanded explanations from the electoral commission.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, called for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the alleged irregularities.

Kwankwaso, in a statement shared on his X account, said Nigerians deserved more than assurances from INEC, urging the commission to make the findings of its investigation public and hold anyone found culpable accountable.

“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 investigation of possible duplicate or artificial identities to ensure that eligible voters were not disenfranchised.

Similarly, a political economist, Pat Utomi, expressed concern over the development, saying the discovery raised serious questions about the verification and accountability mechanisms of the electoral commission.

In a post on X, Utomi said, “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!”

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Moses Paul, also demanded explanations from INEC, questioning how the suspected AI-generated photographs found their way into the register.

“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.

He maintained that Nigerians would not accept silence or secrecy over an issue he said could undermine confidence in democratic institutions.

Also reacting, the Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, questioned the credibility of the voter register, warning that the alleged irregularities could affect the integrity of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Nwankwo raised concerns over the increase in the number of registered voters from more than 90 million to 103 million, questioning the accuracy of the figures and the verification procedures.

He said, “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 further argued that the commission needed to improve communication with political parties and provide greater transparency about its preparations for the elections.

He also warned that shortcomings in the voter registration and polling unit transfer processes could lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

Meanwhile, INEC had earlier defended the publication of the preliminary register, explaining that the online version released on October 26 was the same document physically displayed at Registration Areas nationwide between October 9 and 15.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission said the online publication did not reflect all the data-cleanup activities already underway.

It maintained that the preliminary register was not the final certified document, stressing that the Display, Claims and Objections exercise was designed to enable members of the public to identify inaccuracies, report questionable entries and facilitate corrections before certification.

The commission also said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and would take appropriate action based on verified findings.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, has also said the commission is examining the records and would take corrective action based on verified findings.

The commission is expected to complete the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.