The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that a number of its registration officers have entered questionable, some AI‑generated, photographs and other anomalies into the preliminary voters’ register, the commission’s ICT chief Dr Lawrence Bayode told Arise Television on Friday.
What was discovered?
The commission’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) flagged the irregular entries when it scanned the database. Bayode explained that the flagged records stemmed from two sources: images produced by artificial intelligence and pictures resulting from sub‑standard registration practices. He added that the officers responsible used their personal login credentials to upload the flawed data.
Why could the officers act this way?
Bayode said INEC has traced how the irregularities entered the system but cannot ascertain the motives behind the officers’ actions. “When the ABIS was run on the system, we saw these people. We know what they did. We know how they did it. But honestly, I don’t know why,” he remarked.
What steps is INEC taking?
The commission has begun a clean‑up operation, removing the suspect entries before the preliminary register is officially released. Bayode confirmed that the clean‑up is proceeding within the legally mandated 90‑day window for the registration exercise.
What sparked public concern?
The issue surfaced after the preliminary register was uploaded to INEC’s website on 26 October. Social‑media users circulated screenshots showing photographs that appeared to be AI‑generated, particularly in parts of Edo State, alongside reports of duplicate records and missing voter details.
What is the broader context?
This development adds to growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s voter registration process ahead of upcoming elections. INEC has repeatedly urged the public to await the final, verified register, assuring that all identified anomalies will be addressed before the deadline.
The commission’s ongoing verification effort aims to restore confidence in the electoral roll and ensure that only legitimate voter entries are published for the forthcoming polls.