INEC flags 268 voter records over suspected AI-generated photos

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has flagged 268 voter records over suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities, as it begins cleaning up the preliminary Register of Voters ahead of the 2027 general election.

The commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) had identified the affected records for further investigation.

Bayode said INEC was reviewing all 268 entries to establish which contained AI-generated photographs or other forms of manipulation before taking corrective action.

“What we are currently doing now is looking at all these 268 records that ABIS already flagged as AI-generated or even something of irregularities,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the alleged misuse of special registration, an option created for persons with disabilities who have incomplete fingers or no fingers.

According to him, some individuals allegedly exploited the provision and used official credentials to create questionable voter profiles, an irregularity the commission’s biometric system detected.

Bayode, however, clarified that INEC would not remove every photograph that had been enhanced with artificial intelligence.

He explained that there was a difference between images generated entirely by AI and genuine photographs improved with AI-powered tools on mobile phones.

“Those that we know it is the AI on the phone that helped enhance their pictures, we can’t exclude such people because it was the AI on the phone that does that,” he said.

He added that only photographs confirmed to have been generated by AI would be removed, stressing that the commission had already started addressing the affected records.

The development follows public concerns over INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters, which was published online on October 26.

Screenshots circulated on social media showing questionable photographs attached to voter records, including entries reportedly linked to parts of Edo State.

The controversy also raised questions about alleged duplicate registrations and reports that the names of deceased persons appeared on the register.

INEC had explained that the online publication was the same preliminary register displayed physically at Registration Areas across the country from October 9 to 15.

The commission stressed that the register was not yet the final certified version, noting that the display exercise was intended to give Nigerians an opportunity to identify errors, challenge questionable entries and report inaccuracies before certification.

INEC said it would complete the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup exercises before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.

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