INEC reveals that some registration officers used their system access to introduce artificial intelligence photos into the voter register.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has publicly announced that some of its own field registration officers are directly responsible for the strange AI generated pictures and other bad images discovered inside the national voter register.
The electoral body made this clear after sharp-eyed citizens and political observers raised serious concerns online upon seeing weird and unreal photographs on the preliminary voter list published on the internet.
The discovery sparked widespread worry and questions across the country about how computer-generated pictures managed to find their way into an official government database meant for conducting national elections.
People took to social media to share screenshots, prompting the electoral commission to launch an urgent internal investigation to find out how the errors happened and who was responsible for uploading such questionable files into the system.
Explaining how those strange images entered the official records during a media briefing, INEC’s Director of ICT revealed that the culprits were staff members who had legitimate operational access to register voters in various centers.
He noted that while some of the bad pictures came from very poor camera handling and bad registration practices, others were clearly created using artificial intelligence tools.
Speaking on how the system caught the culprits and how the pictures got inside the database, the INEC ICT director stated:
“Some of these pictures are AI-generated. Some of them not AI-generated, but very bad registration. And this thing got into the register by the registration officers and because they have access to register people.”
He explained further that the commission’s high-tech security system, known as the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), scanned the database and flagged the irregular accounts.
Although the system tracked down the exact individuals who acted, the electoral body expressed shock over why any staff member would do such a thing.
Expressing confusion over the motives of the workers involved, the ICT director added:
“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.”
The commission clarified that the voter list published online was only a preliminary version and not the final certified document.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who serves as the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee at INEC, released an official statement addressing the public concern.
He explained that the commission values the alertness of ordinary citizens who check the voter register and report suspicious entries, noting that public scrutiny helps build a cleaner and more credible electoral system for the nation.
Regarding the ongoing steps to fix the errors, the official statement noted:
“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.”
The commission also stated:
“The Commission appreciates the vigilance of citizens and stakeholders who have brought these concerns to public attention. Such scrutiny contributes to the process of improving the accuracy and integrity of the register.”
INEC assured all Nigerians that a thorough data-cleanup, verification, and adjudication process is currently underway to remove all fake entries, double registrations, and bad photographs.
The electoral body promised that the final and fully cleaned Register of Voters will be officially certified and released to the public on December 15, 2026, ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
