The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs discovered in the preliminary voters’ register published on its website.
The commission, facing public outrage over the suspicious images, has promised to correct verified irregularities before certifying the final register on December 15, 2026.
INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee.
The commission explained that the online register published on October 26 was the same preliminary document displayed physically at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15 for public scrutiny.
It, however, clarified that the online version did not capture all the data-cleaning activities already underway to address questionable entries.
According to INEC, the Display, Claims and Objections exercise was designed to enable Nigerians to examine the register, report errors and flag suspicious records ahead of the final certification.
The commission said questionable registration records had already been identified and flagged during the exercise, while investigations were ongoing into how the suspicious photographs found their way into the database.
It is also examining possible technical or procedural lapses that may have allowed the images to appear in the register.
INEC stressed that the document currently available online was only a preliminary register and not the final certified voters’ list.
The commission welcomed concerns raised by Nigerians and other stakeholders, describing public scrutiny as essential to improving the credibility and accuracy of the register.
It assured the public that all verified irregularities would be addressed in accordance with established procedures, with further updates to follow as the investigation progresses.
INEC said the ongoing verification, adjudication and data-cleaning processes would be completed ahead of the December 15 deadline for certifying the final Register of Voters.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the authenticity of photographs accompanying voters’ details in the online register, with Nigerians questioning how suspected AI-generated images entered an official electoral database.
