Clement Nwankwo, wey be Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), don question whether Nigeria voter register dey correct as the country dey prepare for the 2027 general election.
Nwankwo allege say dem don put information and pictures wey Artificial Intelligence (AI) generate inside the voter register. E warn say these alleged problems, together with questions about the readiness of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), fit affect the credibility of the election and make am easy for people to manipulate the process.
E talk this during interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, as e question how the number of registered voters increase from over 90 million to 103 million.
According to am, the increase raise questions about whether all the people wey dey inside the register qualify to vote.
Nwankwo talk say, “Technology don move forward, and now wetin we dey see na AI-generated information and pictures wey dem don put inside the voter register.”
E explain say civil society groups and individuals don use different technology tools, including AI, to examine the register.
According to am, the results of these checks show say the voter register get serious problems.
Nwankwo also question how the number of registered voters jump from over 90 million to 103 million, as e argue say Nigeria may no get up to 103 million people wey qualify to vote.
E say the country need to go back and address the problems, even though e believe say e don almost too late to prepare a completely new voter register before the 2027 election.
Nwankwo insist say Nigeria must face the problem of public trust in the current voter register.
The PLAC director also raise concern about how INEC dey communicate with political parties concerning preparations for the election.
E say the commission suppose regularly brief political parties about wetin e dey do and how preparations dey go. However, e complain say political parties no dey get enough information about the process.
Nwankwo also point to gaps for INEC election preparation documents, warning say some of the problems fit hard to correct before the election.
Another issue wey e raise na the transfer of voters to new polling units after dem move go another area.
E warn say more Nigerians fit lose the chance to vote for 2027 if INEC no make am easy for people to transfer their voting locations to where dem dey live now.
Nwankwo also question whether INEC don properly explain how Nigerians fit report mistakes or challenge questionable names wey dey inside the voter register.
E say e never see evidence to show say the commission provide enough information about how citizens fit submit complaints or objections after dem display the register.
The PLAC director further allege say some questionable names fit come from the continuous voter registration exercise wey INEC conduct before.
E recall say some politicians and political parties mobilise people for their constituencies to register as voters when the registration window open. According to am, this period fit be connected to the appearance of questionable names inside the register.
However, the claims about AI-generated pictures and questionable voter entries remain allegations raised by Nwankwo. The concerns highlight calls for INEC to explain how e verify voter information and how Nigerians fit challenge any errors before the 2027 general election.
