The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed some of its registration officers for the appearance of suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photographs and other questionable entries in its preliminary voters’ register.
The commission alleged that some officials abused their authorised access to its registration system to introduce irregular records into the database.
INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television, saying investigations had traced some of the anomalies to registration officers who used their login credentials to upload suspicious photographs and other irregular entries.
According to Bayode, the commission uncovered the questionable records through its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which was deployed to detect irregularities and scrutinise voter registration data.
He explained that registration officers deployed across the country had authorised login details to access the system, but some allegedly took advantage of the privilege to compromise the integrity of the register.
Bayode said some of the photographs were suspected to have been generated using AI, while others resulted from poorly conducted registration exercises.
He, however, stressed that not all registration officers were involved in the alleged misconduct.
The ICT director said INEC had identified the questionable records and established how some of them were introduced into the database, although the motive behind the actions of the officials remained unclear.
He said the commission was already working to clean up the register and remove irregular entries ahead of the final certification.
Bayode also disclosed that INEC was under pressure to complete the exercise within the statutory 90-day period.
The revelation comes amid mounting controversy over the credibility of the voters’ register following the circulation of screenshots showing bizarre photographs suspected to be AI-generated, alleged duplicate registrations and other discrepancies.
The controversy erupted after INEC uploaded its preliminary register of voters to its official website on October 26, triggering widespread reactions and scrutiny on social media.
Some Nigerians also complained that their personal details were missing from the online database despite having previously registered, while others raised concerns over alleged multiple registrations.
In response to the growing criticism, INEC clarified that the online register was the same preliminary version displayed physically at Registration Areas across the country between October 9 and 15 during the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.
In a statement on October 27, the commission acknowledged that questionable records had been identified and flagged during the physical display, assuring Nigerians that a review and corrective exercise were underway.
INEC maintained that the published register was provisional and should not be mistaken for the final certified list of eligible voters.
The commission said its ongoing verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes were aimed at eliminating irregular entries before the register is finalised.
INEC is expected to conclude the exercise and certify the final register of voters on December 15, 2026.
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