INEC Reveals AI Photos in Voter Register Irregularities

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has traced the presence of suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs in its preliminary voter register to irregularities allegedly introduced by some registration officers with access to its registration system. Dr Lawrence Bayode, INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, disclosed this on October 30 during an appearance on Arise Television.

He explained that certain registration officers across Nigeria misused their login details to introduce questionable records into the database. The commission discovered these irregularities through its Automated Biometric Identification System.

Bayode noted that while some photographs were AI-generated, others resulted from poor registration procedures. He stated that INEC had identified the records and understood how the irregularities occurred but could not explain the motives behind the officers' actions.

The preliminary register was uploaded to INEC's website on October 26, following public concerns over suspicious photographs and duplicate entries.