Human rights lawyer and public affairs commentator, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over suspected AI-generated photographs in the preliminary voters’ register, describing the commission’s claim of 103.4 million registered voters as a “corpulent fantasy” and questioning the credibility of its proposed response.
Odinkalu, in a post on his X account on Wednesday, said INEC’s recent statement acknowledging suspicious photographs had reinforced his earlier concerns about the size and integrity of the voter register ahead of the 2027 general election.
“This week, I have argued that @inecnigeria’s claim of 103.4 million voters in #Nigeria is corpulent fantasy,” he wrote, adding that the commission’s explanation had confirmed his position.
He faulted INEC for saying it was examining the circumstances surrounding the appearance of photographs suspected to be AI-generated, including possible technical or procedural lapses, arguing that the explanation was inadequate to restore public confidence.
“The reasons given by the Commission fall between fantastical & frightening. Its proposed remedies cannot enjoy public confidence,” Odinkalu stated.
The professor questioned how questionable photographs could enter the register despite what he described as INEC’s stringent voter registration procedure, which requires citizens to appear physically for photograph capture.
“Data breach of any sort in this process simply means an #InsideJob. In other words, it would be #PrimaFacie evidence that the Commission is compromised,” he alleged.
Odinkalu also warned against allowing the same system under scrutiny to investigate and correct the suspected irregularities, arguing that such an approach could undermine confidence in the outcome.
“The response is not more of the same as this statement proposes. Trusting the same compromised system or process to correct this is a sure guarantee of a #WhiteWash. It will compound complicity with #CoverUp,” he wrote.
He called for an independent technical review and reconciliation of the preliminary register, proposing that the process include observers from all registered political parties fielding candidates in the 2027 elections, as well as representatives of organised labour, the media and civil society, including faith-based organisations.
According to Odinkalu, such a process, although not perfect, would significantly improve the credibility of the register and the public’s confidence in the electoral process.
He warned that failure to adopt a more independent and transparent review could damage confidence in the 2027 elections before the polls are held.
“Anything less & the first shots have been fired in an election designed to be lacking in both credibility & public trust,” he said.
INEC had earlier announced that it was reviewing suspicious photographs and questionable records in the preliminary register published online on October 26, 2026. In a statement dated October 27, the commission said the online register was the same preliminary register displayed physically nationwide from October 9 to 15 and that the publication did not reflect all ongoing data-cleanup activities.
The commission said it was investigating possible technical or procedural lapses and would address verified irregularities before the final Register of Voters is certified on December 15, 2026.
