INEC Explains AI-Generated Photos in Voters’ Register, Sets Date for Final Certification

INEC Explains AI-Generated Photos in Voters’ Register, Sets Date for Final Certification

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed concerns over suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs discovered in Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register, assuring citizens that verification and corrections are ongoing.

The controversy followed the online publication of the preliminary register, which contained questionable photographs linked to entries from a polling unit in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The images triggered widespread reactions on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the reliability of the voter registration process and the measures used to protect the integrity of the electoral database.

However, INEC clarified on Tuesday that the register published online on October 26, 2026, was a preliminary document and should not be mistaken for the final certified voters’ register.

Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, said the online version was identical to the preliminary register physically displayed nationwide between October 9 and 15, 2026.

The display exercise allowed registered voters and other stakeholders to inspect the records, identify errors, challenge questionable entries and request necessary corrections before the commission certifies the final register.

According to INEC, some questionable registration records were identified during the physical display and flagged for further investigation. The commission said it had begun reviewing the affected entries and taking corrective measures under established procedures.

The electoral body explained that the online publication reflected the original preliminary register and did not incorporate every data-cleaning activity already underway.

INEC also confirmed that it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs to determine whether technical problems or procedural lapses contributed to their appearance in the register.

The commission said appropriate action would follow once the facts had been established, while assuring Nigerians that verified irregularities would be addressed through the applicable procedures.

INEC welcomed the vigilance of citizens and stakeholders who raised concerns about the photographs, noting that public scrutiny was important to improving the accuracy and credibility of the voters’ register.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to completing the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleaning exercises before the final Register of Voters is certified on December 15, 2026.

It also promised to provide further updates as the review progresses, maintaining that the preliminary register remains subject to scrutiny and correction before final certification.