By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)says it is investigating suspected AI-generated photographs in the preliminary register of voters published online ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission explained that the online register published on October 26 was the same preliminary register displayed physically at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15.
“During the physical display, a number of questionable registration records were identified and flagged for further examination,” the commission said in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee.
The commission clarified that the online register did not reflect corrections and other data-cleanup activities still in progress.
“The online publication represents the original preliminary register and does not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities,” the statement added.
INEC explained that the preliminary register was not the final certified register, noting that the display exercise allowed members of the public to identify inaccuracies and irregularities before certification.
“The Display, Claims and Objections exercise is specifically intended to facilitate public scrutiny, identify inaccuracies and irregularities, and enable appropriate corrections before certification,” Haruna maintained.
The commission also disclosed that it was investigating how the suspicious photographs entered the register, including whether technical or procedural lapses occurred.
“The Commission is also examining the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and will take appropriate action based on verified findings,” the statement said.
PerSecondNews recalls that INEC had published the preliminary register online on October 26 following public concerns over its accessibility, making it available through its dedicated portal after the physical display exercise ended on October 15.
INEC commended citizens and stakeholders who raised concerns about the photographs, describing their scrutiny as helpful in improving the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ register.
The commission stressed that it would complete the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes before the scheduled certification of the final register of voters on December 15, 2026.
It assured Nigerians that verified irregularities would be addressed through established procedures and that further updates would be provided as the review progressed.
The latest controversy comes amid growing public concerns over the use of artificial intelligence in Nigeria’s 2027 electoral process, with Nigerians questioning the credibility of voter records after suspected AI-generated photographs and alleged duplicate entries surfaced in the online register.
The development has raised questions about INEC’s verification procedures and its preparedness to guarantee the integrity of the forthcoming elections.
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