INEC Faces Scrutiny Over Suspected AI-Generated Voter Registration RecordsThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing questions over the integrity of its voters’ register following the discovery of suspected AI-generated photographs and other questionable registration entries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission’s Director of Information and Communications Technology, Lawrence Bayode, reportedly disclosed on October 30 that some registration officers allegedly abused their official access credentials to introduce questionable records into the database. According to the report, some of the photographs were suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence, while others were linked to poor registration procedures.
INEC reportedly said its Automated Biometric Identification System detected the irregularities, adding that investigations and corrective measures were underway. The development has raised concerns among opposition figures and other Nigerians about the effectiveness of the commission’s verification processes and the possibility of ineligible identities appearing in the final voters’ register.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had also criticised the commission over the alleged failure to make the preliminary voters’ register accessible online during the statutory display period. He argued that announcing voter registration figures without providing the public with an opportunity to scrutinise the register could undermine transparency.
Under Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2026, INEC is required to display the preliminary voters’ register physically and online for seven days. The provision also allows citizens 14 days to raise objections concerning ineligible or deceased persons, as well as claims involving omitted names. Section 20 provides for revision officers to consider such claims, with appeals allowed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The report further noted that appearing in the preliminary database does not automatically qualify an individual to vote, as only eligible voters whose records meet verification requirements should be included in the certified register.
With the final register scheduled for certification on December 15, INEC is being urged to provide a detailed account of the irregularities, identify officials involved and address legitimate objections before the certification process is concluded. The commission is also being called upon to ensure public access to corrections and provide verifiable assurances that fictitious identities are excluded from the final register.
