Recent social media claims alleging that the voter database managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission contains more than 20 million artificial intelligence-generated entries are unfounded, as reports show no verifiable data or methodology behind the figures. The speculation began following social media posts highlighting strange passport photographs featuring grid patterns and unnatural distortions on voter entries from polling units in Edo State.
What did INEC clarify about the preliminary register?
INEC published the preliminary voter register online on October 26, matching the documents previously displayed across registration areas from October 9 to October 15. Mohammed Kudu Haruna, chairman of the commission's Information and Voter Education Committee, stated that flagged records were undergoing review, emphasizing that the online portal displayed a preliminary draft rather than the certified final register. Officials initially noted that technical or procedural lapses were under investigation without specifying the volume of affected files.
However, the situation escalated when Lawrence Bayode, INEC's Director of ICT, appeared on a television interview to confirm that specific administrative personnel had been compromised. Bayode disclosed that rogue registration officers abused their official login credentials to input irregular data across multiple states. According to the ICT director, while some affected images stemmed from poor registration quality, others were artificially generated. He noted that the commission utilized its Automated Biometric Identification System to detect the irregularities, identifying the perpetrators and methods involved.
Why does the 20 million figure fall short?
With the total voter population standing at over 103 million, a 20 million anomaly would account for roughly twenty percent of the entire database. This claim nearly doubles the entire intake recorded during the recent Continuous Voter Registration drive, which added approximately 10.6 million individuals across three distinct phases. Observers noted that substantiating such a massive figure would require sweeping discrepancies across historical data archives, which critics have failed to demonstrate.
Investigative findings and independent civil society organisations have identified far fewer actual discrepancies. Yiaga Africa's Samson Itodo drew attention to demographic shifts in the preliminary register, noting that young adults aged 18 to 34 comprise 28.79 percent of the roll, a drop from 39.6 percent in 2023, and urged the commission to release a comprehensive age distribution.
What are the reactions from political figures and civil society?
Pressure continues to mount from various civic groups and political actors. The Kwankwasiyya Amana group criticized the reliance on a preliminary document to excuse data security lapses, demanding accountability regarding how flawed images bypassed security protocols. Meanwhile, pressure groups like Concerned Citizens for Nigerian Democracy had previously issued ultimatums for the publication of the database in compliance with electoral guidelines.
Prominent political figures have also weighed in, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar demanding the immediate naming and suspension of all indicted officials, alongside a thorough independent forensic audit before the final certification. Electoral authorities have scheduled the final certification of the voter roll for December 15, ahead of the general elections.