INEC to probe suspicious photos, clean voter register before December 15

The Independent National Electoral Commission has begun investigating suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs discovered in the preliminary register of voters published on its website, promising to correct verified irregularities before certifying the final register on December 15.

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 the online version published on October 26 did not reflect its ongoing data-cleanup activities.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, amid public concerns over suspicious photographs appearing in the register.

The commission clarified that the online register was the same preliminary register physically displayed across the country from October 9 to 15 as part of the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.

According to INEC, the exercise was designed to allow members of the public to scrutinise the register, identify inaccuracies and irregularities, and facilitate corrections before its final certification.

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

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The commission stressed that the preliminary register was not the final certified register, assuring Nigerians that questionable records identified during the process were being reviewed in line with established procedures.

It added that investigations were ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses that might have allowed them to appear in the register.

“The Commission is also examining the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and will take appropriate action based on verified findings,” Haruna said.

INEC welcomed the concerns raised by citizens and stakeholders, describing public scrutiny as an important part of efforts to improve the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ register.

The commission assured Nigerians that verified irregularities would be addressed through the applicable procedures and that further updates would be provided as the review progressed.

It reiterated its commitment to completing the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes ahead of the scheduled certification of the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.