RismadarVoice Reporters
November 11, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified officials in about 10 states for possible disciplinary action following the discovery of artificial intelligence-generated photographs uploaded to Nigeria’s national voters’ register.
The commission disclosed that the affected photographs had been removed as part of efforts to protect the integrity of voter registration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed on Wednesday during a webinar organised by the PUNCH Media Foundation.
The webinar, titled AI, Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote, examined the growing challenges posed by artificial intelligence to electoral credibility.
Haruna acknowledged that the commission had discovered several AI-generated photographs in the voters’ register, describing the development as a significant concern.
He explained that while INEC could remove suspicious photographs from its database, preventing individuals from manipulating their images before submitting them remained a challenge.
The commissioner, however, said the commission had identified instances involving its own personnel and was taking steps to address the violations.
According to him, the names of officials allegedly involved had been obtained across approximately 10 states.
He disclosed that the affected personnel had been flagged and would face disciplinary proceedings.
Haruna did not identify the states involved, disclose the number of implicated officials or specify how many AI-generated photographs had been removed.
He also did not provide details of the disciplinary measures being considered.
Speaking on INEC’s preparations to address artificial intelligence-related risks ahead of the 2027 elections, Haruna said the commission had developed an AI policy that was undergoing finalisation.
He noted that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence presented regulatory challenges for electoral authorities worldwide.
According to him, even countries with advanced electoral systems were still developing comprehensive frameworks for managing the technology.
Haruna said INEC was examining how artificial intelligence could be deployed responsibly while establishing safeguards against potential misuse.
He assured participants that the commission would make its policy available to the media after completing the necessary processes.
The development comes amid growing concerns about the potential use of manipulated images, misleading digital content and other AI-generated materials during electoral activities.
INEC maintained that addressing such challenges would remain an important part of its preparations for credible elections in 2027.
