ABUJA, Nigeria – 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, as it begins cleaning 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, saying the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) had identified the questionable entries for further scrutiny. “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,” Bayode said.
He explained that some individuals allegedly exploited a special registration process designed for persons with disabilities who have incomplete or missing fingers to create questionable voter profiles. Bayode said the commission had begun removing records found to be irregular. “Those that we have seen, we are cleaning up,” he said.
The development followed the publication of INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters on its website on October 26. The release triggered public concern after screenshots circulated on social media showing suspicious photographs attached to voter records, particularly in parts of Edo State.
The controversy also raised questions about alleged duplicate registrations, entries bearing the names of deceased persons and complaints from some registered voters who said their details were missing from the online register. The concerns prompted reactions from political leaders and civil society figures, with calls for the commission to explain the discrepancies and safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, called for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the alleged irregularities. In a statement posted on his X account, Kwankwaso said Nigerians deserved more than assurances from INEC, urging the commission to publish its findings and ensure that anyone found culpable was held accountable.
Political economist Pat Utomi also expressed concern, saying the discovery raised questions about the commission’s verification and accountability systems. “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!” Utomi wrote on X.
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