AI voter photos: INEC technology faces forensic audit call ahead of 2027

A coalition of civil society organisations and election observers has called for a forensic investigation of the Independent National Electoral Commission's electoral technology following allegations that artificial intelligence-generated photographs and questionable records were introduced into the voter register.

The coalition also urged President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent Federal Tribunal of Inquiry to investigate the alleged irregularities and other concerns capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

The demand followed INEC's publication of its preliminary voter register on October 26, which reportedly exposed suspicious photographs, duplicate registrations and questionable voter records.

In a statement issued on Monday in Calabar, the National Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Election Observers said the allegations raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the next general elections.

The statement was signed by the Chairman of the National Coalition of INEC Consultative Partners, CSOs and Election Observer Groups, Mr Stafford Bisong.

Bisong said INEC had acknowledged identifying suspicious registration records, including photographs allegedly generated using artificial intelligence, and had commenced a review and corrective process.

He also cited media reports alleging that 268 records had been flagged for examination, alongside claims that some registration officers abused their official access credentials to introduce irregularities.

"This controversy raises serious questions about registration procedures, staff accountability, biometric verification, database integrity and the security of INEC's electoral technology infrastructure," he said.

The coalition maintained that an independent investigation was necessary to establish how the questionable records entered the electoral database and determine whether they could affect the final voter register.

Bisong said the proposed tribunal should investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, examine INEC's Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and establish whether the alleged irregularities could compromise the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He recommended a comprehensive forensic examination of the commission's registration databases, system logs, access records, biometric information, vendor contracts and other technical evidence.

According to him, the investigation should establish whether the alleged breaches resulted from technical weaknesses, misconduct by registration officials or failures in the commission's verification procedures.

The coalition proposed that the tribunal comprise retired senior judicial officers, forensic auditors, artificial intelligence experts, cybersecurity specialists, biometric identification professionals and electoral law experts.

It also recommended representation from all 22 registered political parties, alongside election observers and civil society experts, to strengthen the credibility and independence of the investigation.

On the proposed timeline, Bisong urged Tinubu to ensure that the tribunal was constituted within seven days, released preliminary public findings within seven days of inauguration and submitted its final report within 30 days.

He further called for the immediate preservation of INEC's original photographs, database records, metadata, registration logs, staff access credentials and other digital evidence.

He warned that such materials must be protected against alteration, destruction or selective deletion while the investigation was ongoing.

However, the coalition cautioned against indiscriminate removal of questionable voter records, stressing that any corrective action must protect eligible Nigerians from disenfranchisement.

Bisong said investigations into the allegations should respect INEC's constitutional responsibilities while ensuring that genuine voters were not unfairly excluded from the register.

He also urged INEC, political parties, technology providers and international partners to cooperate with the proposed inquiry.

"I urge INEC, political parties, technology providers and international partners to cooperate with the proposed inquiry," he said, adding that electoral credibility depended on "trustworthy technology, transparency and accountability".

The coalition said resolving the concerns surrounding the voter register was important to strengthening public confidence in INEC and protecting the integrity of the 2027 general elections.