Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing mounting pressure from major political parties over suspected Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated photographs discovered in the preliminary voters' register. The controversy has raised questions about the integrity of Nigeria's voter database, just three months before the 2027 general election. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have demanded explanations and actions from INEC.
The APC has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the matter, while the ADC has demanded the resignation of the INEC chairman. The NDC has raised an alarm over the 103 million registered voters, urging public scrutiny. The PDP has warned against technical glitches and alleged breaches of the Electoral Act. INEC has acknowledged the concerns and announced an investigation, but the parties insist that assurances alone are not enough.
APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the commission has serious questions to answer and must provide verifiable answers before the final certification of the register. He cautioned against accusing opposition parties or other political actors without credible evidence, stressing that electoral integrity must take precedence over partisan considerations. Yilwatda also warned that the growing sophistication of artificial intelligence poses serious threats to electoral integrity.
The ADC has adopted a tougher position, with its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, declaring that the credibility of the commission and its leadership is on trial. Shaibu rejected suggestions that the irregularities should attract less scrutiny because the register is still preliminary. He demanded a comprehensive disclosure of the number of affected voter records, the origin of the suspicious images, and whether PVCs had been issued against the entries.
The National Leader of the NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has described the allegations as a national embarrassment, warning that doubts about the authenticity of voter records could cast a shadow over the credibility of the entire electoral process. Dickson noted that INEC has announced approximately 103 million registered voters and urged Nigerians to scrutinize voter entries in their communities and report suspicious names or discrepancies.
The PDP has commended INEC for acknowledging the concerns and promising to examine its systems, but warned that Nigerians would not tolerate technical failures or explanations that could undermine confidence in the 2027 polls. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, described INEC's response as a potentially encouraging indication of its willingness to address identified shortcomings.
INEC is set to publish the final voters' register on December 15, 2026, and has warned against electoral violence. The commission's leadership is under scrutiny, with some parties demanding its resignation. The controversy has united the ruling party and opposition parties in demanding accountability, but they differ sharply on whether the commission's leadership should remain in office.
Key points
- INEC faces pressure over suspected AI-generated voter photographs
- Political parties demand explanations and actions from INEC
- The controversy has raised questions about the integrity of Nigeria's voter database
