WorldStage— The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has begun reviewing suspected AI-generated photographs and other questionable records in its preliminary Register of Voters, assuring Nigerians that identified irregularities will be addressed before the final register is certified on December 15, 2026.
The Commission said the preliminary register published on its website on October 26 is not the final certified document and remains subject to public scrutiny, verification and correction.
INEC’s Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, amid public concerns and social media reports about suspicious photographs appearing in the register.
Haruna explained that the online register is the same preliminary document physically displayed at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15, 2026, as part of the Display, Claims and Objections exercise.
He said the exercise was designed to enable citizens and stakeholders to scrutinise the register, identify inaccuracies and irregularities, and facilitate necessary corrections before certification.
According to him, some questionable registration records had been identified and flagged for further examination during the physical display, prompting INEC to commence a review and initiate appropriate corrective measures in line with established procedures.
Haruna noted that the online publication represents the original preliminary register and does not incorporate all ongoing data-cleanup activities.
He added that the Commission was investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and would take appropriate action based on verified findings.
The INEC official commended citizens and stakeholders who raised concerns about the register, noting that public scrutiny was important to improving its accuracy and integrity.
He assured Nigerians that the Commission remained committed 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.
