The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has known as for an unbiased investigation into suspected AI-generated pictures and alleged manipulation of private information within the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) preliminary Register of Voters forward of the 2027 basic elections.
SERAP particularly urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, to analyze the alleged irregularities, decide whether or not they breach information safety legal guidelines and determine these accountable.
The organisation, which made the demand in an open letter dated October 31, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, warned that the reported manipulation of voter registration information might undermine the electoral register’s integrity, compromise Nigerians’ private information and expose eligible voters to wrongful exclusion.
Read Also: SERAP Asks Court To Compel INEC To Account For N126bn
The name follows INEC’s October 27 acknowledgement of issues about suspected AI-generated pictures within the preliminary register revealed on its web site.
The fee stated it recognized questionable registration information through the nationwide show of the preliminary register from October 9 to fifteen, 2026, and flagged some for additional examination.
INEC additionally stated it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspicious pictures, together with potential technical or procedural lapses, whereas taking corrective measures.
The fee had additional defined that the web register didn’t mirror all ongoing data-cleaning actions and maintained that the preliminary register was not the ultimate licensed model.
It said that verification, adjudication and data-cleaning workouts could be accomplished earlier than the ultimate Register of Voters is licensed on December 15, 2026.
However, SERAP argued that INEC’s inside evaluation was inadequate, saying the NDPC should independently examine the allegations below its statutory data-protection mandate.
The civil society organisation urged the fee to conduct a forensic examination of INEC’s voter-registration database and associated techniques to ascertain the character and extent of the irregularities, the quantity and geographical distribution of affected information, when and the way they had been created or altered, and who was accountable.
It additionally known as for an investigation into whether or not registration officers or others misused authorised entry credentials to introduce questionable information, stressing that having official entry credentials doesn’t robotically make each subsequent motion lawful.
SERAP additional urged the NDPC to find out whether or not private information had been unlawfully accessed, altered or processed and whether or not INEC had complied with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Citing Sections 24 and 39 of the Act, the organisation stated private information controllers should make sure the accuracy, integrity and safety of data of their custody and defend it towards illegal alteration, loss and unauthorised entry.
It additionally cited Section 65, which defines a private information breach as together with a safety breach that outcomes, or is more likely to outcome, within the illegal alteration, loss, disclosure of or entry to non-public information.
According to SERAP, Section 40 requires information controllers to inform the NDPC inside 72 hours of changing into conscious of a breach more likely to pose dangers to people’ rights and freedoms. They should additionally notify affected people if the breach is more likely to end in a excessive threat and preserve information of such incidents.
The organisation stated the NDPC ought to set up whether or not the reported incidents triggered these obligations and require acceptable corrective measures if violations are confirmed.
It additionally known as for accessible procedures that will enable affected Nigerians to confirm and proper their voter-registration particulars with out unfair disenfranchisement.
SERAP stated the alleged irregularities raised issues past information safety, significantly concerning the constitutional rights to privateness and political participation.
It cited Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which ensures the appropriate to privateness, in addition to Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which defend residents’ rights to take part in public affairs and vote in real elections.
The organisation warned that any compromise of the voter-registration database might erode public confidence within the electoral course of and have an effect on eligible Nigerians’ means to train their democratic rights.
It subsequently urged the NDPC to publish its findings and proposals, topic to lawful protections, and be certain that anybody discovered liable for wrongdoing is held accountable.
SERAP requested that the measures be taken inside seven days of receipt or publication of its letter, warning that it could think about authorized motion and different lawful measures towards the federal authorities, NDPC, INEC and different related authorities if its calls for weren’t addressed.
It stated an unbiased investigation and efficient corrective measures had been significantly pressing given INEC’s December 15 deadline to certify the ultimate register, which shall be used for the 2027 basic elections.
We’ve bought the sting. Get real-time studies, breaking scoops, and unique angles delivered straight to your cellphone. Don’t accept stale information. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for twenty-four/7 updates →
