The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and questionable registration records in Nigeria’s preliminary voter register, promising to address verified irregularities before December 15.
The investigation follows public concerns over suspicious photographs appearing in the register published on the commission’s website on October 26, raising questions about the accuracy of voter information ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC disclosed its position in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, saying it had identified and flagged questionable records during the physical display of the preliminary register nationwide.
The commission said the online register was the same preliminary document displayed at Registration Areas across the country from October 9 to 15 as part of the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.
It explained that the publication did not reflect all the data-cleanup activities already underway.
“The online publication represents the original preliminary register and does not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities,” the commission said.
INEC maintained that the preliminary register was not the final certified document, stressing that the display exercise was designed to enable registered voters and other members of the public to identify inaccuracies and irregularities before certification.
According to the commission, questionable records identified during the physical exercise had been flagged for further examination, with corrective action initiated in line with established procedures.
It said the investigation would establish how the suspicious photographs entered the register and whether technical or procedural lapses contributed to the problem.
“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,” Haruna said.
The commission welcomed concerns raised by citizens and stakeholders, describing public scrutiny as an important safeguard for improving the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ register.
The controversy emerged shortly after INEC published the preliminary register online following calls for broader public access. The commission said the online publication was intended to complement the physical display and allow more Nigerians to inspect their registration details.
The register is available through INEC’s official voter register portal.
Reports have also highlighted wider concerns about questionable entries, including allegations of duplicate records and discrepancies in voters’ personal details. Such claims require individual verification and should not, without supporting evidence, be treated as proof that the register has been deliberately manipulated.
The allegations have heightened the importance of transparent verification as preparations continue for the 2027 elections. The accuracy of the register is central to identifying eligible voters and ensuring that registration records correctly reflect their identities.
INEC has not established that the suspicious photographs were definitively generated by artificial intelligence or identified those responsible for their appearance. Instead, it said its investigation would guide any action taken after the facts had been verified.
The distinction is important because the presence of a suspicious photograph alone does not establish how it was produced, how it entered the database or whether the associated registration record is fraudulent.
The commission assured Nigerians that verified irregularities would be addressed through the applicable procedures and that further updates would be provided as the review progressed.
INEC said it remained committed to completing the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes ahead of the scheduled certification and publication of the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
The outcome of the investigation, and the commission’s explanation of any confirmed lapses, could prove significant for public confidence in the electoral process as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general election.
