The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs discovered in its preliminary Register of Voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission said it had identified and flagged questionable registration records during the physical display of the preliminary register at Registration Areas nationwide, adding that a review and corrective process had commenced.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, and signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission explained that the register uploaded to its website on October 26 was the same preliminary document displayed physically between October 9 and 15. 

INEC said the online publication represented the original preliminary register and did not incorporate all the data-cleanup activities already in progress. It stressed that the document was not the final certified register and remained subject to verification and corrections.

The controversy followed public concerns over photographs appearing alongside voter records, with some images suspected of being generated using artificial intelligence. The commission said it was investigating how the photographs entered the register and whether technical or procedural lapses contributed to the problem. 

INEC added that appropriate action would be taken based on verified findings. However, it has not yet publicly established the origin of the suspected images or confirmed whether they resulted from deliberate manipulation, administrative errors or failures in its registration processes.

The commission welcomed the concerns raised by citizens and other stakeholders, describing public scrutiny as an important part of improving the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ register. It said the display, claims and objections exercise was designed to help identify inaccuracies and irregularities before the register is certified.

INEC said it would complete the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026. It assured Nigerians that confirmed irregularities would be addressed through established procedures and that further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.