INEC Under Fire As SERAP Gives Tinubu 7-Day Ultimatum Over Alleged AI-Generated Voter Photos
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing mounting pressure over suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photographs and alleged manipulation of Nigeria’s voters’ register, with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) giving President Bola Tinubu seven days to order an independent investigation.
SERAP wants Tinubu to direct the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to investigate the alleged irregularities, establish how they occurred and identify individuals or institutions responsible.
In a letter dated October 31, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation warned that the controversy raises serious questions about the protection of Nigerians’ personal information and the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
SERAP insists that INEC’s internal investigation cannot replace an independent inquiry by the NDPC. It warned that failure to meet its demands could result in legal action against the Federal Government, INEC, NDPC and other relevant authorities.
The controversy followed INEC’s nationwide display of the preliminary Register of Voters between October 9 and 15, 2026, during which Nigerians reportedly identified suspicious photographs, including images suspected to have been generated using AI.
INEC acknowledged the discovery of questionable registration records and concerns surrounding suspected AI-generated photographs in a statement issued on October 27.
The commission said it had commenced an internal review and was taking corrective measures to address possible technical and procedural failures.
However, its explanation has generated further questions about how the suspicious photographs and registration records entered the electoral database in the first place.
Critics are particularly questioning whether the irregularities could have occurred without the knowledge or involvement of officials with access to INEC’s registration and backend systems.
Questions have also been raised about the biometric verification process, including who authenticated the registrations and whether incomplete records were allowed into the system.
Another major concern is the reported production of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) bearing some of the questionable photographs.
If such cards were produced, Nigerians want to know whether the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would successfully authenticate them during the 2027 elections and what safeguards exist against possible electoral manipulation.
Allegations circulating about millions of questionable registrations, including claims of more than 20 million fake PVCs, have further heightened public anxiety. Reports of polling units with unexpectedly inflated voter figures have also generated demands for independent verification.
These claims have not been independently established and should not be treated as proven evidence of electoral fraud. Nevertheless, their seriousness makes a transparent investigation imperative.
SERAP is demanding a comprehensive forensic examination of INEC’s voter database and information technology infrastructure to determine whether personal information was unlawfully accessed, altered or manipulated.
The organisation also wants investigators to establish the number and geographical distribution of affected records, determine when the questionable entries were created or modified and identify those responsible.
It further urged the NDPC to determine whether the alleged incidents constitute personal data breaches under Section 65 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
SERAP also wants the investigation to establish whether INEC fulfilled its statutory obligations regarding data-breach notifications, documentation and record-keeping.
The organisation cited Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy, alongside relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
It warned that eligible voters must not be disenfranchised because of registration errors, unauthorised alterations or questionable entries in the electoral database.
Meanwhile, the commission is expected to complete its verification, adjudication and data-cleanup exercises before certifying the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
However, concerns persist over whether the proposed cleanup will adequately address the reported irregularities and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Beyond SERAP’s intervention, the controversy has triggered wider demands for accountability, with critics questioning why no senior official has publicly accepted responsibility for the lapses or faced disciplinary action.
Opposition leaders, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, are also being urged to treat the matter as a national democratic concern rather than merely a partisan political dispute.
The central issue is whether INEC can guarantee that every entry in the final voters’ register represents a genuine, eligible voter and that the electoral database is protected against unauthorised access and manipulation.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the credibility of the voters’ register remains fundamental to public confidence in the electoral process.
For many Nigerians, the commission’s assurances will not be enough without an independent forensic investigation, transparent disclosure of findings and accountability for anyone found responsible.
The controversy has therefore placed a critical question before the electoral commission and the Federal Government: Can INEC convincingly demonstrate that Nigeria’s 2027 elections will be conducted using a credible, accurate and tamper-proof voters’ register?
