INEC FLAGS 268 VOTER RECORDS OVER AI-GENERATED PHOTOS, VOWS TO CLEAN REGISTER

The Independent National Electoral Commission has flagged 268 records in its preliminary Register of Voters for suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities, as it begins a cleanup of the database ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The disclosure was made by the commission’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, ValidViewNetwork reports .

THE INVESTIGATION

Bayode said the Automated Biometric Identification System had identified the questionable records for further examination.

“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 explained that some individuals allegedly exploited a special registration option designed for persons with disabilities who have incomplete fingers or no fingers to create questionable voter profiles.

The special registration process was among the loopholes allegedly exploited .Bayode said the commission had commenced the removal of records confirmed to be fraudulent .”Those that we have seen, we are cleaning up,” he said .

THE DISTINCTION

The ICT director clarified that the use of artificial intelligence to enhance genuine photographs would not automatically disqualify affected voters .

“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 distinguished between photographs of genuine voters enhanced using AI applications and images generated entirely by artificial intelligence. Only the latter would be removed.

THE PUBLIC OUTRAGE

The development followed the publication of INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters on its website on October 26, which triggered public outrage after screenshots circulated on social media showing suspicious photographs attached to voter records, particularly in parts of Edo State .

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The controversy also raised concerns over alleged duplicate registrations, the inclusion of deceased persons, and complaints by some registered voters that their details were missing.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, called for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the alleged irregularities.

“While I welcome INEC’s decision to investigate the matter, Nigerians deserve more than assurances. The investigation must be thorough, transparent and independent (outside of INEC’s internal affairs), with its findings made public and any individuals found culpable held accountable in accordance with the law,” he said.

WHY IT MATTERS

The admission of 268 flagged records is a significant development in a scandal that has shaken confidence in INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.

The commission has acknowledged that its system was compromised. It has identified the loopholes. And it has promised to clean up the register before certification on December 15, 2026 .

But for Nigerians, the question remains: how many more records are compromised? And can the register be trusted when the final version is published?

INEC has promised transparency. The cleanup has begun. The clock is ticking. ValidViewNetwork reports.