Odita Sunday 
HURIWA Demands Probe Into Suspected AI-Generated Images in Voter Register
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain how suspected AI-generated photographs found their way into the preliminary voter register, warning that unresolved questions could erode public confidence ahead of the 2027 general election.
The association wants INEC to open its investigation to independent scrutiny, allow credible civil society organisations to monitor the process and publish its findings to show Nigerians how the disputed records entered the register and what is being done to address them.
In a statement dated October 28, 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA said the commission needed to establish whether the questionable entries resulted from technical failures, lapses in registration procedures or deliberate attempts to manipulate the database.
The group raised several questions, including who supplied the photographs, how the registration system accepted the records, who carried out the registration and whether the individuals linked to the disputed entries had collected their Permanent Voter Cards.
HURIWA said INEC’s explanation had acknowledged the controversy but had not addressed all the questions surrounding the suspicious records.
INEC had explained that the preliminary register uploaded to its website on October 26, 2026, was the same register displayed physically at Registration Areas nationwide. The commission also said the online publication did not reflect its ongoing data-cleaning exercise.
It added that questionable registration records had been flagged for further examination and that appropriate action would follow once the findings were verified.
However, HURIWA argued that the preliminary status of the register should not be a reason to delay a thorough investigation. It urged INEC to establish the facts, correct confirmed irregularities and ensure that the final register is reliable before certification.
The association also called for civil society organisations to be allowed to observe the verification process and independently examine how disputed entries are corrected or removed.
The group urged political parties to bring in artificial intelligence specialists, cybersecurity professionals and data analysts to examine the voter register and assess the safeguards INEC intends to use ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to HURIWA, political parties should not depend entirely on assurances from the electoral commission but should develop the technical capacity to identify suspicious entries, detect possible duplicate identities and challenge irregularities through established procedures.
It also asked INEC to explain how its systems detect fabricated photographs, duplicate records and unauthorised changes to voters’ information.
The association said clear explanations of these safeguards would help the public understand how the commission intends to protect the register from manipulation.
HURIWA further urged INEC to investigate complaints about missing names and alleged duplicate identities, warning that efforts to remove questionable entries must not lead to eligible voters being wrongly excluded.
It called on the commission to explain how affected voters could correct errors before the final register is certified.
The group said the challenge was to ensure that the register excluded fictitious or ineligible entries while protecting the voting rights of legitimate voters.
With the 2027 general election approaching, HURIWA warned that unresolved concerns about the voter register could fuel public suspicion and trigger avoidable disputes over the electoral process.
It urged INEC to publish the outcome of its investigation and provide evidence of the measures taken to address confirmed irregularities.
The association maintained that public confidence would depend on more than official assurances. It said Nigerians needed clear answers about what happened, how the problems were addressed and whether anyone found responsible would face appropriate action under the law.
About the Author
