INEC Blames Registration Officers for AI-Generated Photos in Preliminary Voters’ Register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has traced the appearance of suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities in its preliminary voters’ register to some registration officers who allegedly manipulated records using their system access.

INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this on Friday during an interview on Arise Television.

Bayode said some registration officers across the country used their login details to introduce questionable records into the commission’s database.

He explained that the irregularities were discovered through the Automated Biometric Identification System, which INEC used to examine the registration records.

According to him, while some of the suspicious photographs were generated using artificial intelligence, others resulted from poor registration procedures.

Bayode said the commission had identified the affected records and established how some of the irregularities occurred, although he could not explain the reasons behind the actions of the officers involved.

The disclosure follows public concerns over suspicious photographs and other discrepancies after INEC uploaded its preliminary voters’ register to its website on Oct. 26.

Screenshots circulated on social media had shown photographs suspected to be AI-generated attached to voter records in parts of Edo State.

Other complaints included alleged duplicate entries and reports by some registered voters that their details were missing from the online register.

INEC had earlier explained that the online register was the same preliminary list physically displayed at registration areas nationwide between Oct. 9 and 15 for the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.

In a statement on Oct. 27, the commission said it had identified and flagged questionable records during the exercise and commenced a review to correct the irregularities.

It also clarified that the published register was not the final certified version, as data-cleanup activities were still ongoing.

INEC is expected to complete its verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes before certifying the final Register of Voters on Dec. 15, 2026.