INEC probes suspected AI-generated photos in voters’ register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is investigating suspected AI-generated photographs in the preliminary register of voters published on its website, following public concerns over the integrity of the records.

The commission said the online register released on October 26 was the same preliminary register displayed physically at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15 as part of the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.

In a statement on Tuesday, INEC’s Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the online publication did not reflect all ongoing efforts to clean up the register.

“The online publication represents the original preliminary register and does not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities,” he said.

Haruna explained that some questionable registration records had been identified during the physical display exercise and flagged for further examination, adding that the commission had begun reviewing them and taking corrective action in line with established procedures.

He stressed that the published register was not the final certified list, noting that the exercise was designed to allow citizens to identify inaccuracies and irregularities before certification.

“It is important to emphasize that the preliminary register is not the final certified register,” Haruna said.

He added that the commission was examining the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and would take appropriate action based on verified findings.