A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Pharm Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain how suspected artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photographs and other questionable records entered its preliminary Register of Voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ikeagwuonwu made the demand in a press statement dated November 2, 2026.
He also called for an independent forensic investigation into allegations that as many as 20 million fraudulent or artificially inflated voter records could be used to manipulate the forthcoming elections in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described the controversy surrounding the preliminary voters’ register as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
Ikeagwuonwu insisted that the matter should not be treated as an ordinary administrative error.
His intervention follows revelations by INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode.
Bayode had revealed that some registration officers allegedly used their official login credentials to introduce questionable records into the commission’s database.
According to media reports quoting Bayode, the irregularities were detected through INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which reportedly flagged 268 records for further examination.
INEC has subsequently acknowledged the existence of suspicious photographs and other questionable registration records.
It promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding their appearance and correct verified irregularities.
The commission, however, maintains that the preliminary register is not the final certified register.
He noted that the ongoing verification and data-cleanup exercise will be completed before its scheduled certification on December 15, 2026.
Ikeagwuonwu Questions Security of INEC’s Database
Reacting to the development, the NDC chieftain questioned how officials entrusted with protecting the integrity of the electoral register could allegedly become involved in compromising the same database.
He demanded that INEC establish whether the officers acted independently, collectively or under external instructions.
He also called for investigations into possible duplication of National Identification Numbers (NINs), biometric information, personal details and multiple registrations linked to fictitious identities.
According to him, investigators must determine whether questionable identities could survive the verification process and eventually become part of the final certified voters’ register.
He warned against fraudulent records that could be retained and subsequently exploited through the issuance or misuse of voter credentials.
He insisted they could potentially create opportunities for impersonation, multiple voting and artificial inflation of polling-unit figures.
Demands Investigation Into Alleged 20 Million Fraudulent Records
Ikeagwuonwu expressed particular concern over allegations circulating among opposition stakeholders that up to 20 million questionable voter records could be involved in an alleged scheme to influence the 2027 elections in favour of the APC.
He argued that the allegation was too serious to be dismissed without investigation.
The NDC chieftain acknowledged that it must be independently established before responsibility could be attributed to any political party or individual.
He stressed that the APC’s position as the ruling party and its political interest in the forthcoming elections did not, by themselves, establish that the party ordered, financed or participated in any alleged manipulation.
Nevertheless, he insisted that the possibility of political interference made an independent investigation imperative.
He identified possible areas of concern, including artificial inflation of registered voters in strategically selected constituencies.
Other areas of concern include impersonation, multiple voting and discrepancies between accredited voters and declared results.
Demands Independent Forensic Audit of Voters’ Register
The NDC chieftain called on INEC to submit its entire preliminary voters’ register and all flagged records to an independent forensic audit.
The audit, he said, will be conducted by credible cybersecurity, biometric and electoral technology experts.
He insisted that the investigation must not be controlled exclusively by the electoral commission, whose internal systems and procedures are themselves under scrutiny.
Among his demands are:
- Independent forensic audit: A comprehensive examination of the preliminary voters’ register by independent technical experts.
- Preservation of digital evidence: Immediate preservation of database versions, biometric records, photographs, access logs, timestamps, IP records and other relevant audit trails.
- Full disclosure: Publication of the exact number of AI-generated photographs, questionable registrations, suspected duplicate records and duplicated NINs identified.
- Identification of officials: Disclosure of the registration officers, supervisors and other personnel whose credentials were allegedly used to introduce irregularities, subject to due process.
- Political-party monitoring: Participation of recognised political parties in the independent verification exercise, with appropriate safeguards for voters’ personal information.
- Technical security assessment: Disclosure of the safeguards protecting INEC’s registration platform against credential abuse, unauthorised access and database manipulation.
- Independent verification: No certification of the final voters’ register until identified irregularities have been investigated and resolved.
- Public accountability: Publication of a comprehensive report explaining what happened, how it happened and the corrective measures implemented.
Calls oqn Opposition Parties to Unite Against Electoral Manipulation
Ikeagwuonwu also urged opposition political parties, particularly the NDC, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other democratic forces, to establish a coordinated national response rather than issue fragmented statements.
He called for a joint approach to INEC demanding transparency, accountability and independent verification of the electoral database.
He further urged opposition parties to involve international democratic institutions in scrutinising the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral preparations.
Among the organisations and institutions he wants engaged are the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United States Government, United Nations, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI).
He specifically urged these organisations to support independent electoral technology assessments, cybersecurity reviews, biometric verification and transparent monitoring ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, international observers should not wait until election day before examining the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure.
“They must help establish whether the system through which Nigerians are expected to vote is credible in the first place,” he argued.
Demands Identification and Punishment of Complicit INEC Officials
The NDC chieftain demanded that every INEC official found culpable of deliberate falsification, abuse of official credentials, conspiracy or other criminal misconduct should face disciplinary proceedings and prosecution in accordance with applicable laws.
He maintained that the investigation should not be restricted to junior registration officers.
According to him, supervisors, directors, contractors, senior management personnel and political intermediaries should also be investigated if evidence points to their involvement.
He insisted that no individual should be shielded because of their position within the commission.
Warns Against Possible Democratic Crisis
Ikeagwuonwu warned that allowing unresolved irregularities to remain in the final voters’ register could undermine public confidence in the 2027 general elections and expose the country to avoidable political instability.
He noted that Nigeria was already grappling with poverty, unemployment, inflation, insecurity and widespread distrust of political institutions.
He cautioned that a disputed election arising from allegations of deliberate manipulation could trigger protests, civil disobedience, prolonged legal battles and a crisis of national legitimacy.
He therefore urged INEC to demonstrate transparency and ensure that every questionable registration was properly investigated before the final register was certified.
Calls on Nigerians to Defend Their Voting Rights
The NDC chieftain also appealed to Nigerian youths, students, professionals, civil society organisations, labour unions, traditional institutions, religious leaders and members of the diaspora to take an active interest in protecting the electoral process.
He urged registered voters to verify their registration details, report suspicious or duplicate entries through official INEC channels and preserve verifiable evidence of questionable records.
Ikeagwuonwu also called for peaceful civic engagement, public accountability and resistance to electoral intimidation and violence.
He further urged the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities by investigating the controversy publicly.
‘No Clean Register, No Credible Election’
In his concluding remarks, Klinsmann insisted that the integrity of the voters’ register was fundamental to the credibility of the 2027 elections.
He warned that the December 15, 2026, certification deadline must not become an excuse for rushing an inadequately scrutinised database into the electoral process.
He summarised his position with a strong message to the electoral commission:
“INEC MUST CLEAN THE REGISTER, NOT CLEAN UP THE EVIDENCE.”
He maintained that Nigerians were not demanding that INEC favour the opposition, the NDC or any presidential candidate.
Rather, they were simply insisting on the protection of every eligible citizen’s constitutional right to cast one legitimate vote and have it counted honestly.
“Nigerians are not asking INEC to favour the opposition. We are not asking INEC to favour the NDC or any presidential candidate.
“We are asking INEC to protect the constitutional right of every Nigerian to cast one legitimate vote and have that vote counted honestly,” he stated.
He concluded by warning that the commission must not mortgage the future of the country to the political ambitions of a few individuals.
