The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has launched an investigation into how suspected AI generated photographs found their way into the newly published Preliminary Register of Voters.
In a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission confirmed that it is looking into the technical or procedural lapses that allowed the fake images to appear.
INEC promised to take strict action once the investigation is complete.
INEC explained that the AI photos were not a surprise to its officials. The Commission revealed that several questionable records were already flagged for examination during the physical display of the register across the country from October 9 to 15.
The Commission noted that the online version published on October 26 is simply a raw draft. It clarified that the online list does not reflect the ongoing data cleanup and corrections currently happening behind the scenes.
INEC stated that this is exactly why the preliminary register is not the final certified list. The display exercise was specifically designed to allow citizens to spot errors and help the Commission clean up the data before the official certification.
The Commission praised Nigerians for their vigilance in spotting the fake AI photos, noting that public scrutiny is crucial for a credible election.
INEC assured that all verified errors will be fixed before the final Register of Voters is certified on December 15, 2026.
