The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the preliminary Register of Voters published on its website is not the final certified register, following concerns over suspected AI-generated photographs in the document.
INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee Chairman, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, that the preliminary register remains subject to scrutiny, verification and correction before certification.
He explained that the Display, Claims and Objections exercise was designed to enable members of the public to identify inaccuracies and irregularities for necessary corrections.
Haruna clarified that the register published online on October 26 was the same preliminary register physically displayed at Registration Areas nationwide from October 9 to 15, 2026.
He disclosed that some questionable registration records had been identified and flagged for further examination during the physical display, adding that the Commission had commenced a review to address the issues in line with established procedures.
According to him, the online publication contains the original preliminary register and does not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities.
Haruna added that INEC was investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious photographs, including possible technical or procedural lapses, and would take appropriate action based on verified findings.
He commended citizens and stakeholders who raised the concerns, noting that public scrutiny would help improve the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ register.
The INEC official assured Nigerians that verified irregularities would be addressed through established procedures, while further updates would be provided as the review progresses.
He said the Commission remained committed to completing the necessary verification, adjudication and data-cleanup processes ahead of the scheduled certification of the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
