Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify and disclose the names of registration officers allegedly responsible for introducing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images and fictitious entries into the national voters’ register.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, said INEC’s admission that some registration officers introduced irregularities into the register raised serious concerns about the commission’s internal controls and the credibility of the electoral process.
He described the development as a major failure of the safeguards put in place to protect the integrity of the voters’ register.
“INEC has admitted that some AI-generated images are on the voters’ register and that registration officers introduced irregularities across the country. A commission charged with protecting Nigerians’ votes has acknowledged that its own system was compromised by those entrusted to operate it. This is a catastrophic failure of leadership and operational safeguards,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President faulted explanations by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and the commission’s Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Dr Lawrence Bayode, who reportedly said that although INEC had identified what the officers did and how the database was compromised, it was yet to establish their motives.
Atiku questioned why the commission had not disclosed the identities of the personnel involved, arguing that knowing how the irregularities occurred should be followed by concrete steps to establish accountability.
“Professor Joash Amupitan, through Bayode Lawrence, says INEC knows what its officers did and how they tampered with the register, yet claims it does not know why. That is a disgraceful evasion, not an answer. Even ordinary WhatsApp, Facebook, and personal email accounts appear to possess stronger security safeguards than those the INEC ICT director described on national television. How can a sovereign database holding the records of millions of Nigerian voters be less secure than a basic social media profile?” he asked.
He urged INEC to disclose the evidence surrounding the alleged breach, identify all personnel implicated and explain whether disciplinary or legal action had been initiated against them.
“If INEC knows how the register was compromised, it must disclose the evidence, identify every officer involved, and explain why they have not been suspended and prosecuted. Prof. Amupitan cannot admit systemic misconduct, withhold the perpetrators’ identities, and expect Nigerians to accept ignorance as an excuse. He must account for this failure now,” he added.
Atiku also called for an independent forensic audit of the voters’ register, citing allegations that more than 20 million AI-generated images could be involved. He warned that the commission should not remove questionable entries without preserving the digital evidence needed to investigate how they were introduced.
“INEC must not quietly clean up the register and bury the evidence. The allegation that more than 20 million AI-generated images may be involved demands an independent, multi-stakeholder forensic audit. The commission must preserve every voter record, image file, access log, and audit trail. Let accredited independent experts, political parties, civil society actors, and credible international observers examine the evidence. No disputed record should be certified until that audit is concluded,” he demanded.
The ADC campaign council also criticised INEC over what it described as a lack of transparency in the award of contracts for the production of sensitive electoral materials.
Atiku said opposition parties had repeatedly called on the commission to disclose the identities of companies handling such materials and provide details of the security arrangements governing their contracts.
“INEC has continuously ignored calls from opposition parties to reveal the identities of companies contracted to produce sensitive electoral materials. That level of opacity is incompatible with a credible electoral process. If the APC-led Federal Government knows who is handling these materials and the security protocols governing them, opposition parties are entitled to the same disclosures. INEC must publish the contractors’ identities and detail the operational safeguards guiding their contracts,” he said.
He warned that the opposition would consider legal action if INEC failed to provide the requested information and demonstrate compliance with transparency requirements.
“If INEC refuses to disclose the truth, we will approach the courts to compel it. Every official found to have compromised the integrity of the voters’ register must face the full wrath of the law,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President further urged opposition figures, civil society organisations and international development partners to press for a comprehensive forensic audit, full disclosure and accountability over the alleged irregularities.
He maintained that public confidence in the 2027 general elections could be affected if the commission failed to address the concerns raised over the integrity of the voters’ register.
“INEC cannot demand public trust while concealing evidence and shielding compromised operatives. It must name the culprits, unmask the contractors, and submit the voter database and electoral materials to independent forensic verification. Until then, its public assurances remain hollow. The credibility of the 2027 general elections is on the line,” he concluded.