INEC voter registry under scrutiny over suspected AI photos, PVC pickup complaints

The electoral commission is investigating questionable photographs in its preliminary voters’ register, while reported errors on its PVC pickup portal raise further questions about the reliability of its digital services.

Nigeria’s electoral commission is facing renewed scrutiny over its digital election systems following reports of suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs in the preliminary Register of Voters and complaints about access to its Permanent Voter Card (PVC) pickup service.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was investigating questionable registration records after photographs suspected of being AI-generated attracted attention on social media. The commission also acknowledged that some records had been flagged for further examination during an earlier physical display of the preliminary register.

In a statement issued on October 27, 2026, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, said the commission had begun reviewing the records and taking corrective action in accordance with established procedures.

INEC explained that the register uploaded to its website on October 26 was the same preliminary document displayed at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15. It said the online publication did not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities.

The commission stressed that the register was not the final certified list of voters and that the review process was intended to identify inaccuracies and irregularities before certification.

INEC said it was examining the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and would take appropriate action based on verified findings. The final Register of Voters is scheduled to be certified on December 15, 2026.

The controversy has also drawn attention to the accessibility of the commission’s online services. Some users have reported that the PVC pickup option on the voter portal returns a “redirected you too many times” error when they attempt to access it.

Checks by this publication reportedly reproduced the error. However, the cause of the problem has not been independently established, and no verified evidence currently links the reported portal difficulty to the questionable photographs in the preliminary register.

The two issues raise separate questions about the performance of INEC’s digital services and the processes used to maintain electoral records. While the suspected photographs are the subject of an acknowledged investigation, the reported PVC portal error requires further technical verification and an official explanation.

The appearance of questionable photographs does not, by itself, establish that the associated voter registrations are fraudulent or that the electoral register has been deliberately manipulated. Likewise, a website error does not establish that voter data has been compromised.

INEC’s ongoing review is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the flagged records and what corrective measures are necessary before the final register is certified.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, the commission’s handling of the investigation, its response to reported portal problems and its communication with the public will be important to addressing concerns about the accuracy of voter records and the reliability of its digital services.