Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register has come under scrutiny after screenshots circulating on social media appeared to show voter records with suspicious photographs, alleged to be generated by AI, raising questions about how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) verifies the information used to register voters.
The screenshots, shared after INEC published the preliminary register online, prompted users to question the authenticity of some records, with others raising concerns about alleged duplicate entries and missing names. The commission has since said it is investigating the disputed photographs and reviewing questionable records identified during the registration process.
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Questions mount over suspicious voter records
The concerns gained attention after an X user, Decosule (@SuleDeco), shared screenshots of voter records reportedly from Ward 11, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
In the post shared on October 26, Decosule questioned how the photographs entered the register, who conducted the registration and image-capturing process, and whether Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) linked to the records had been collected.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), a leading opposition party in next year’s election, also called on INEC to explain the appearance of the suspected AI-generated images. Political economist Pat Utomi also criticised the reported irregularities, warning that the issue raised questions about the commission’s verification process and accountability.
The concerns extend beyond the photographs. Some Nigerians have reported discrepancies in their registration details, including alleged duplicate identities and names missing from the online register.
In a statement issued on October 27, by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), the electoral body said it had identified and flagged questionable registration records during the physical display of the preliminary register at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15.
The commission said it had begun reviewing the records and taking corrective action in line with established procedures. He explained that the register uploaded to its website on October 26 was the same preliminary list displayed physically across the country. It added that the online publication did not include all the corrections and reviews already underway.
“The online publication represents the original preliminary register and does not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities,” the statement said.
The commission said it would complete the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
The investigation is expected to clarify how the disputed photographs entered the register and whether the reported discrepancies resulted from technical errors, procedural lapses or other causes. Until INEC completes its review, the allegations of AI-generated photographs and duplicate records remain unverified.
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