Politics & Governance2 Nov 2026 · about 6 min

INEC flags 268 records over AI photos, irregularities

The brief

INEC flagged 268 voter records in its preliminary register for suspected AI-generated photographs and other irregularities. This matters because the commission is checking whether these entries represent real, eligible voters before the 2027 elections. ABIS identified the questionable records, including profiles allegedly created through special registration for people with incomplete or missing fingers. An AI-generated photograph is created entirely by artificial intelligence, rather than showing a real person in a genuine photograph. It differs from a genuine photograph merely improved by an AI app. INEC said it is removing the affected records, but will retain genuine photographs enhanced with AI. The review followed the register’s October 26 publication. Public complaints also mentioned duplicates, missing details, and deceased names. The findings could affect confidence in the register, so INEC faces pressure to explain its checks publicly.

What did INEC flag in the preliminary Register of Voters, and what does it mean for a photograph to be AI-generated?

ABIS identified the questionable records, including profiles allegedly created through special registration for people with incomplete or missing fingers. An AI-generated photograph is created entirely by artificial intelligence, rather than showing a real person in a genuine photograph. It differs from a genuine photograph merely improved by an AI app.

INEC said it is removing the affected records, but will retain genuine photographs enhanced with AI. The review followed the register’s October 26 publication. Public complaints also mentioned duplicates, missing details, and deceased names. The findings could affect confidence in the register, so INEC faces pressure to explain its checks publicly.

How many voter records were flagged, and how large is Nigeria’s overall voter register?

INEC flagged 268 voter records for suspected AI-generated photographs and other irregularities. The finding matters because the register supports credible elections. INEC is reviewing the records before the 2027 general elections.

Its biometric system, ABIS, identified the questionable entries for examination. Some allegedly used special registration for people with incomplete or missing fingers. That option was reportedly exploited to create questionable voter profiles.

Nigeria’s preliminary register contains 103 million voters, up from more than 90 million. Concerns also include duplicate registrations and missing voter details. INEC says genuine photos enhanced with AI will remain, but fully AI-generated images will be removed. The commission is cleaning affected records while calls continue for transparent, independent verification.

How did INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System identify questionable records?

INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System, or ABIS, automatically flagged 268 voter records for suspected AI-generated photographs or other irregularities. The system’s alerts sent those records for further examination, but INEC has not described its precise detection method.

One suspected weakness involved special registration for people with incomplete or missing fingers. ICT Director Lawrence Bayode said some people allegedly exploited that option to create questionable voter profiles. Officials are checking whether images were entirely AI-generated or merely enhanced.

This distinction matters: AI-enhanced photographs will remain, but fully AI-generated images will be removed. INEC began cleaning entries after publishing its preliminary register on October 26. The review followed complaints about suspicious photographs, duplicate registrations, missing details, and deceased people’s names. INEC has not said how many records will ultimately be deleted or published ABIS’s technical criteria. Further review will determine which entries are removed before the 2027 elections.

Why was the special registration option for people with incomplete or missing fingers allegedly vulnerable to abuse?

The special registration option was designed for people with incomplete or missing fingers, allowing them to register despite limited fingerprints. INEC said this flexibility was allegedly exploited to create questionable voter profiles, making it a potential loophole in identity checks.

The article does not identify individual abusers or explain the exact method used. However, the exception may have reduced the usual fingerprint-based scrutiny while questionable photographs or details were attached. INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System flagged 268 records for suspected AI-generated images or other irregularities, including records linked to the alleged abuse.

INEC has begun removing affected records from the preliminary register ahead of 2027. It will remove fully AI-generated photographs, but retain genuine photographs merely enhanced by phone-based AI. The case shows why exceptional registration routes require strong additional checks, especially as concerns also include duplicate registrations and missing voter details.

What happens to a voter record when its photograph is found to be entirely AI-generated, compared with a genuine photograph merely enhanced by AI?

INEC treats a completely AI-generated photograph differently from a genuine photograph improved with an AI tool. A fully synthetic image is considered an irregularity, and INEC is removing the related record. An enhanced real photograph does not automatically disqualify the voter.

INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System flagged 268 records for suspected AI images or other irregularities. For example, some people allegedly used special registration, intended for people with incomplete or missing fingers, to create questionable profiles. Officials are reviewing the flagged entries and cleaning those confirmed as problematic.

This distinction matters because ordinary photo enhancement does not prove a false identity, while a wholly generated image can undermine confidence in the register. INEC published the preliminary register online on October 26, after suspicious images drew public criticism, especially in Edo State. The commission says affected records are being removed before the 2027 elections, while genuine voters with enhanced photos remain listed.

What other checks can help determine whether a voter record is genuine, duplicated, belongs to a deceased person, or is missing from the register?

Checks should combine fingerprints, facial matching, personal details, and registration locations. Comparing entries with death records and inviting public verification can reveal duplicates, deceased voters, or missing entries. Independent observers should review disputed cases, especially where records use special registration.

Here, INEC’s ABIS flagged 268 records for suspected AI-generated images or other irregularities. Officials can inspect each record, compare biometrics, verify details, and investigate special-registration cases involving incomplete or absent fingers. Matching biometrics across locations can expose duplicates. Human review can then prevent genuine voters from being wrongly removed.

The preliminary register went online October 26, after screenshots from Edo raised concerns about suspicious photographs. Reports also mentioned duplicate registrations, deceased names, and voters missing online. Independent audits, published findings, and a clear correction process could protect genuine voters while removing false or repeated identities.

Why is an accurate voter register fundamental to elections, and how can errors in it disenfranchise eligible voters or weaken confidence in democracy?

An accurate voter register identifies real, eligible people and records them correctly. It helps each voter cast one ballot, prevents duplicates, and lets officials plan credible elections. If names or details are wrong, eligible citizens may be rejected, missing, or unable to prove their registration.

In Nigeria, INEC’s biometric system flagged 268 records for suspected AI-generated photographs or other irregularities. Some allegedly exploited special registration for people with incomplete or missing fingers. False profiles can complicate verification, while missing names or incorrect details can stop eligible voters at polling stations.

INEC said it is removing confirmed AI-generated images but will keep genuine photos enhanced by phone-based AI. The preliminary register, published October 26, also prompted complaints about duplicate registrations, deceased people’s names, and missing voter details. Transparent checks and public findings therefore matter: they can correct errors before 2027 and restore confidence in democratic institutions.

This brief was written by AI from the original reporting and checked by other models. Names, figures and quotes come from the source; read it for full context.