By Temidire Adefolarin
Commission identifies suspected AI-generated photographs, registration loopholes as political leaders and civil society figures demand transparency over voter register.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun reviewing and removing questionable entries from its preliminary Register of Voters after its biometric identification system detected 268 records suspected of containing artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities.
The development comes amid growing public scrutiny of the electoral commission's database following the appearance of suspicious voter photographs and other disputed entries in the register published ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC's Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, disclosed the latest findings during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, explaining that the commission's Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) had identified the 268 records for further investigation.
Bayode revealed that some of the questionable entries were linked to alleged exploitation of a special registration arrangement intended to accommodate persons with disabilities who have incomplete or missing fingers.
He explained that the provision, which allows eligible applicants with such conditions to complete voter registration through a special procedure, was allegedly manipulated to introduce irregularities into the database.
According to him, the commission has already started examining the affected records and correcting entries established to be invalid.
However, the ICT director clarified that the use of artificial intelligence to improve the quality of a genuine photograph would not automatically disqualify a registered voter.
He distinguished between authentic photographs enhanced through AI-powered applications and images created entirely using artificial intelligence, explaining that only photographs confirmed to be artificially generated would be removed.
The controversy erupted after INEC uploaded its preliminary voter register to its website on October 26, prompting widespread reactions when screenshots showing suspicious photographs attached to some voter profiles began circulating on social media, particularly in parts of Edo State.
Beyond the disputed photographs, Nigerians also raised concerns about alleged multiple registrations, the inclusion of deceased persons and reports from some registered voters who could not find their details in the online database.
The development has attracted criticism and calls for greater accountability from political figures, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, who insist that the accuracy of the voter register is fundamental to public confidence in the 2027 elections.
Among those who have expressed concern is Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, who called for an independent and transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities.
In a statement published on his X account, Kwankwaso said the commission needed to go beyond issuing assurances and make the outcome of its investigation available to the public.
He also urged INEC to scrutinise questionable entries, investigate possible duplicate and fictitious identities, and ensure that legitimate voters were not excluded during the correction exercise.
Political economist Pat Utomi equally questioned the commission's verification procedures, arguing that the discovery of suspected AI-generated images in the electoral database raised serious concerns about transparency and institutional accountability.
Utomi, in a social media reaction, maintained that INEC must exercise greater care in managing information that directly affects the credibility of Nigeria's democratic process.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Moses Paul, also demanded an explanation from the commission, questioning how photographs suspected to have been generated by artificial intelligence were accepted into a database meant to establish the identity of eligible voters.
He called for accountability over the circumstances surrounding the entries, warning that failure to address the concerns could further weaken public confidence in electoral institutions.
Similarly, the Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, raised questions about the reliability of the voter registration database during an interview on ARISE News.
Nwankwo expressed concern over the reported increase in registered voters from more than 90 million to approximately 103 million, questioning the verification procedures behind the figures.
He also called on INEC to improve communication with political parties and provide clearer information about its preparations for the forthcoming elections.
According to him, weaknesses in voter registration and polling unit transfer procedures could create difficulties for eligible citizens and potentially prevent some from exercising their voting rights.
Responding to the controversy, INEC had earlier explained that the preliminary register uploaded online on October 26 was the same document displayed physically at Registration Areas across the country between October 9 and 15.
In a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the commission's Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC clarified that the online publication did not incorporate all the corrective measures and data-cleaning activities already in progress.
The commission emphasised that the document was not the final certified Register of Voters, describing the Display, Claims and Objections exercise as an important opportunity for citizens to identify errors, challenge questionable entries and request necessary corrections.
INEC also confirmed that it was investigating how the suspicious photographs entered the database, including the possibility of technical or procedural failures, and promised appropriate action based on verified findings.
The commission's Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has equally assured Nigerians that the affected records are being examined and that corrective measures will be taken where necessary.
INEC is expected to conclude its verification, adjudication and data-cleaning exercises before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Temidire Adefolarin
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