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INEC has flagged 268 voter records over suspected AI-generated ghotos ahead of 2027 elections.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that 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 during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, saying the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) 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,” Bayode said.
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He 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.
According to him, the special registration procedure was among the loopholes allegedly exploited by those responsible for the irregularities detected by the system.
Bayode said INEC had commenced the process of reviewing and removing records confirmed to be irregular from the preliminary register.
“Those that we have seen, we are cleaning up,” he said.
The ICT director, however, clarified that voters whose genuine photographs were merely enhanced using artificial intelligence applications would not automatically be excluded from the register.
He distinguished between photographs improved with AI-powered applications on mobile phones and images generated entirely by artificial intelligence, explaining that only the latter would be removed if confirmed to be fraudulent.
“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 follows the publication of INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters on its website on October 26, which triggered public outrage after screenshots showing suspicious photographs attached to voter records circulated on social media, particularly in parts of Edo State.
The controversy also raised 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 allegations 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.
In a statement shared on his X account, Kwankwaso said Nigerians deserved more than assurances from INEC, urging the commission to make its findings public and ensure that anyone found culpable was held 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 investigations into possible duplicate or artificial identities to ensure that eligible voters were not disenfranchised.
Political economist Pat Utomi also expressed concern over the development, saying the discovery raised questions about the electoral commission’s verification and accountability mechanisms.
In a post on X, Utomi said the presence of AI-generated images in a register intended to support the democratic process raised serious concerns about transparency and the credibility of the electoral system.
“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!” he wrote.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Moses Paul, also demanded an explanation from INEC, questioning how suspected AI-generated photographs found their way into the voter 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.
Paul maintained that Nigerians would not accept silence or secrecy over an issue he said could undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
Similarly, 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 general 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.
“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,” he said.
Nwankwo also argued that INEC needed to improve communication with political parties and provide greater transparency about its preparations for the elections.
He warned that shortcomings in voter registration and polling unit transfer processes could lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
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 explained that the preliminary register was not the final certified document, adding 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 affected 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.
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