INEC Keeps Mute As Suspected AI-Generated Images Surface On Voters’ Profiles Ahead Of 2027 Election
INEC Keeps Mute As Suspected AI-Generated Images Surface On Voters’ Profiles Ahead Of 2027 Election
SaharaReporters observed the images while examining voter profiles on INEC’s official website, where several records appeared to contain photographs suspected of being artificially generated rather than authentic pictures of registered voters.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has failed to respond to enquiries after suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images were discovered on multiple voters’ profiles in its online voters’ register, raising fresh questions about verifying voter information ahead of the 2027 general elections.
SaharaReporters observed the images while examining voter profiles on INEC’s official website, where several records appeared to contain photographs suspected of being artificially generated rather than authentic pictures of registered voters.
Among the profiles examined were those bearing the names Ealefoh Oritsenoma, Ebamenbhegbe Besi, Ebhohimen Godwin, Jacob Gabriel, Maniru Noah, Matthew Isaac and Odion Bibi.
Bubu
The voter identification numbers displayed alongside the profiles were partially masked on the website.
Isaac
The discovery raises questions about the authenticity of photographs associated with the voter records, the procedures used to verify submitted information and the safeguards in place to prevent potentially fabricated images from appearing in an official electoral database.
The development comes as the electoral body prepares for the 2027 general elections and announces plans to introduce AI-powered tools into aspects of its electoral operations.
INEC Fails To Respond
SaharaReporters contacted Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Media Adviser to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, for comments on the discovery and to establish whether the commission was aware of the images, how they came to be associated with the voter profiles and whether an investigation had been initiated.
However, Oketola did not answer repeated telephone calls from SaharaReporters and did not respond to a series of enquiries sent to him through WhatsApp, despite reading the messages.
The commission had not provided an explanation for the images as of the time of filing this report.
INEC’s response would be crucial in determining whether the images resulted from weaknesses in voter registration procedures, unauthorised alterations, the use of synthetic images during data processing or another cause.
Pat Utomi Raises Alarm Over Electoral Credibility
The issue was first publicly raised by Nigerian political economist and professor, Pat Utomi, who questioned the implications of AI-generated images appearing in a database used in the country’s electoral process.
In a post on X, Utomi warned that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system could be undermined if the commission failed to address concerns about the authenticity and verification of voter information.
“INEC cannot afford to be careless with the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process. The presence of AI-generated images in a register meant to support our democracy raises serious questions about verification, transparency and accountability. Our democracy is at stake here!” he wrote.
The concerns come amid growing scrutiny of the role artificial intelligence could play in elections, particularly as advances in generative AI make it increasingly easy to produce realistic-looking images that may be mistaken for authentic photographs.
INEC Plans AI Deployment Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The development comes weeks after INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, announced plans to deploy artificial intelligence tools to strengthen result verification and cybersecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As SaharaReporters reported on October 6, Amupitan disclosed the plans at a press conference and national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where he outlined the commission’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.
He said INEC had established a dedicated AI division within its Information and Communications Technology department.
According to the chairman, automated AI auditing tools had also been integrated into the commission’s result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework, with mandatory human oversight.
“An AI governance framework policy is being finalised by the commission,” Amupitan said.
He further disclosed that INEC was working with international technology companies and other partners to integrate AI-powered anomaly detection tools into its systems.
According to him, the tools would monitor database traffic and help protect the commission’s systems against cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.
Amupitan said the commission was also preparing for nationwide mock accreditation and public display exercises, while training its workforce ahead of the elections.
The chairman described the preparations as part of a “100-day sprint” towards the 2027 general election and assured Nigerians and the international community of INEC’s commitment to neutrality and electoral integrity.
However, the discovery of suspected AI-generated images on voter profiles raises questions about the specific safeguards the commission has in place to maintain the integrity of its own electoral databases.
Political Party Questions INEC’s AI Plans
INEC’s proposed use of artificial intelligence has also attracted criticism from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), which accused the commission of plotting to manipulate the 2027 general elections in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq., and titled “INEC’s Plan To Rig The 2027 General Elections With AI,” the party questioned the timing of the proposed deployment and demanded greater scrutiny of the technology.
“INEC is plotting to rig the 2027 general elections in favour of the ruinous APC by deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI). Suddenly, AI has become an attractive tool for the election management body,” it said.
