INEC Links AI Voter Photos to Registration Officers

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has linked suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities in its preliminary voters’ register to some registration officers who had access to its database.

INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this on Friday, October 30, 2026, during an interview on Arise Television.

Bayode said the commission had identified questionable registration records and established how some of the irregularities entered the system.

The disclosure follows public concerns over suspected AI-generated photographs, duplicate voter entries and other discrepancies in the preliminary register published online on October 26.

How Registration Officers Introduced Questionable Records

According to Bayode, registration officers across the country have individual login credentials that allow them to access INEC’s voter registration system.

He explained that some officers allegedly used this access to introduce questionable records into the database.

The ICT director clarified that not all the suspicious photographs were generated using artificial intelligence.

Some entries, he said, resulted from poor registration procedures.

Bayode explained that INEC detected the irregularities through its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which examines registration records for discrepancies.

The commission was able to trace the affected entries and establish how they entered the database.

However, Bayode said INEC had not established why the officers introduced the irregularities.

INEC Says It Knows How Irregularities Occurred

Speaking about the commission’s findings, Bayode said:

“When the ABIS was run on the system, we saw these people. We know what they did. We know how they did it. But honestly, I don’t know why.”

His remarks indicate that INEC has identified the activities linked to the questionable records, although the motive behind them remains unclear.

The commission has not publicly disclosed the names of the implicated officers or the total number of affected registration records.

It has also not announced specific disciplinary measures against those allegedly involved.

AI-Generated Photos Spark Concerns in Edo State

In an official statement, INEC confirmed it was reviewing questionable voter registration records, including suspicious photographs, before certifying the final register.

The controversy intensified after Nigerians discovered suspicious photographs attached to voter records in parts of Edo State.

Screenshots circulated on social media showing entries from Ward 11 in Etsako West Local Government Area and Udomi in Esan Central Local Government Area.

Some of the photographs appeared to have been generated using artificial intelligence, raising questions about the authenticity of the records.

Other concerns included alleged duplicate entries, names of deceased persons and complaints from voters whose details were missing from the online register.

The discoveries prompted demands for INEC to explain how the questionable entries passed through its registration procedures.

INEC Explains Why Suspicious Records Remain Online

In an earlier statement issued on October 27, INEC explained that the register published online was a preliminary document, not the final certified voters’ register.

The commission said the online version was the same register physically displayed at registration areas nationwide between October 9 and 15 during the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.

According to INEC, some questionable records had already been identified and flagged for review during the physical display.

However, the online publication did not reflect all the data-cleanup activities already underway.

The commission maintained that public scrutiny was part of the process for identifying errors, correcting discrepancies and improving the accuracy of the register.

Opposition Parties Demand Accountability

The controversy has also attracted criticism from opposition parties.

The African Action Congress (AAC) called for a criminal investigation and an independent forensic audit of the preliminary register.

The party argued that the appearance of suspected AI-generated photographs raised serious concerns about the credibility of the voter registration process.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also questioned INEC’s handling of the irregularities and demanded greater transparency.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called on the commission to identify those responsible and explain the safeguards protecting sensitive election data.

The opposition figures maintained that identifying questionable records would not be sufficient without accountability for any misconduct established through investigation.

INEC Targets December 15 for Final Voters’ Register

INEC has said it expects to complete verification, adjudication and data-cleanup activities before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.

The commission maintains that the preliminary register is subject to review and correction before certification.

However, the latest disclosure raises further questions about internal access controls, supervision of registration officers and safeguards against the introduction of fraudulent records.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, attention is expected to focus on whether INEC will identify the officers involved, disclose the scale of the irregularities and announce appropriate corrective or disciplinary measures.