77 days to polls:Parties clash over INEC’s preparations

INEC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, is the body responsible for Nigeria’s electoral preparations in this article. It manages voter registration and produces the voters’ register used ahead of general elections. Its performance matters because election credibility depends partly on whether eligible voters and their details are recorded accurately.

The commission uploaded a preliminary register on October 26, 2026. It contained more than 103.4 million registered voters. INEC also uses technology, including its Automated Biometric Identification System, or ABIS, to check photographs and identify questionable records before the final register is published.

The article focuses on INEC’s preparation for the 2027 general elections. The commission has acknowledged irregularities and promised to clean up the register before releasing the final version on December 15, 2026. Political parties disagree about the seriousness of the problem, but all attention is on INEC’s ability to restore confidence.

INEC discovered that its preliminary voters’ register contained photographs generated by artificial intelligence. The finding raised concerns about whether the electoral database was accurate and whether the commission’s internal checks were working effectively. The issue matters because the register is intended to identify registered voters before the 2027 general elections.

The reported problems extended beyond photographs. Complaints involved questionable names, addresses, genders and other entries. INEC’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, said some registration officers allegedly used official login credentials to introduce irregular records into the database. The commission said it had identified those responsible.

The preliminary register was uploaded on October 26, 2026. INEC acknowledged the problem and promised to correct the anomalies before releasing the final register on December 15, 2026. The discovery has nevertheless intensified worries about the registration process and public confidence in the election.

INEC’s preliminary voters’ register contains over 103.4 million registered voters. This figure covers the voters already recorded in the 2023 register and people added through the continuous voter registration exercise conducted before the 2027 elections. The increase shows the scale of the database INEC must verify.

INEC’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, explained that the new figure includes more than 93 million voters from the 2023 register. It also includes additional registrations completed during the latest continuous voter registration exercise. The comparison therefore reflects both an existing voter base and new entries.

The larger register also increases the importance of reliable checks. INEC said its Automated Biometric Identification System detected several questionable photographs before publication. The commission has promised further cleaning before the final register is released on December 15, 2026, though political parties remain divided over the seriousness of the problems.

The article reports that some registration officers allegedly used their official login credentials to introduce irregular entries into INEC’s electoral database. This is the main mechanism identified for how questionable records entered the system. It raises concerns about access controls and monitoring inside the registration process.

The irregular entries reportedly included AI-generated photographs, as well as questionable names, addresses and genders. INEC’s Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, said the commission had identified those responsible and was taking steps to address the situation. The article does not provide their names or describe specific disciplinary measures.

INEC had already used its Automated Biometric Identification System to detect several questionable photographs before uploading the preliminary register. The commission has acknowledged the problem and promised to clean the database before publishing the final register on December 15, 2026. The discovery has increased scrutiny of its preparedness for the 2027 elections.

INEC is combining technology and internal action to identify and remove irregular entries. Its Automated Biometric Identification System, known as ABIS, detected several questionable photographs before the preliminary register was released. This screening is intended to find problems before the register becomes final.

The commission also investigated how the entries got into the database. Its Director of ICT, Lawrence Bayode, said some registration officers allegedly used official login credentials to introduce irregular records. He said INEC had identified those responsible and was taking steps to address the situation. The article does not specify the exact penalties or deletion process.

INEC uploaded the preliminary register on October 26, 2026, and promised to clean it before publishing the final version on December 15, 2026. The commission says it has time to correct the anomalies. However, the process will be closely watched because the discovery has already raised concerns about database integrity and election readiness.

An inaccurate voters’ register could damage confidence in the electoral process. The article links the discovered images and other irregularities to questions about the integrity of INEC’s database and the effectiveness of its internal monitoring. If those doubts remain unresolved, people may question whether the register can support an election they trust.

The concerns are already visible in the reactions of political parties. Labour Party spokesman Ken Asogwa said the commission should go back to the drawing board and inspire public confidence. The Peoples Democratic Party took a less alarmed view, saying the discovery should not be made to appear bigger than it is and that INEC had committed to correcting the anomalies.

INEC has promised to clean the register before December 15, 2026. That correction is therefore important for the commission’s reputation and for confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections. The article does not state that inaccurate records will remain, only that their discovery has created serious concerns.

A voter register is foundational because it provides the official record of registered voters before an election. Its accuracy helps establish confidence that the electoral database is genuine and properly managed. In this article, concerns about false photographs and questionable personal details directly challenge that foundation.

INEC’s preliminary register contains over 103.4 million voters, including more than 93 million from the 2023 register and new continuous-registration entries. Because the database is so large, INEC uses ABIS to detect questionable photographs. It must also address alleged misuse of official login credentials by registration officers.

The article connects register problems with public perception and trust. Labour Party said INEC must inspire confidence, while PDP said the anomalies could be corrected and should not be exaggerated. INEC has promised to clean the register before December 15, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.