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Urges youths to be vigilant, scrutinise INEC’s activities
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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
National Leader of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has described allegations of AI-generated photographs and fictitious identities in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voters’ register as a national embarrassment, warning that the integrity of the 2027 general election could be compromised if the database is not cleaned up.
Dickson said the allegations raised legitimate concerns about the credibility of the electoral register, insisting that INEC must take responsibility for verifying the authenticity of registered voters and removing questionable entries before the elections.
Dickson spoke in Abuja while accepting the role of Grand Patron of the Dickson Movement for Democracy, a support group established to promote his political ideals, groom young leaders and mobilise support for NDC candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former Bayelsa State governor called on the electoral umpire to explain the situation transparently and take urgent measures to protect the integrity of voters’ data.
“The issue of alleged AI-generated names and photographs in INEC’s voter register is a serious matter that deserves urgent attention.
“It is not something that should be dismissed as mere speculation. Concerns have been raised about the authenticity of some entries, and INEC must address them promptly and transparently,” he said.
Dickson said Nigerians were entitled to assurances that the approximately 103 million registered voters announced by the commission represented genuine and verifiable registrations by eligible citizens.
“The public must have confidence that the register does not contain fictitious identities, fabricated entries or photographs allegedly generated or manipulated through artificial intelligence.
“We cannot afford to approach an election as consequential as the 2027 general election with a voter database whose integrity is in doubt,” he said.
He warned that a failure to address the concerns could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and damage the country’s reputation internationally.
“The principle of garbage in, garbage out applies here. If the underlying data are unreliable, the credibility of the electoral process could be undermined.
“It would be particularly embarrassing if investigations established that the register contained fictitious identities, photographs of deceased persons or images of individuals who were not eligible Nigerian voters.
“Such a development would have serious implications for INEC’s credibility and Nigeria’s international standing,” Dickson said.
He said the commission still had time to investigate the allegations and sanitise the register before the 2027 elections, urging it to provide Nigerians with facts rather than rely solely on statements.
“Fortunately, there is still time for the commission to address these concerns before the election.
“I therefore join other concerned Nigerians in calling on INEC to provide a clear explanation, establish the facts and take all necessary measures to clean up the register,” the senator added.
Dickson urged Nigerians to intensify their scrutiny of the register through the commission’s online platforms and the statutory display of voters’ details, adding that citizens could help identify questionable entries in their communities.
“The law requires the commission to display the voter register in designated locations. Nigerians should take advantage of this process to scrutinise the entries and report suspicious or inaccurate information through the appropriate channels.
“People living in individual communities and registered at particular polling units are often familiar with the genuine residents and voters in their areas. Their vigilance can therefore contribute to identifying suspicious entries,” he said.
However, he maintained that the primary responsibility for ensuring the credibility of the register rested with INEC.
“INEC must take responsibility for ensuring that the register is credible, accurate and reliable.
“The integrity of the voter register is fundamental to the integrity of the election, and the commission must do everything within its legal powers to protect it,” he said.
Earlier, the movement’s National Coordinator, Comrade Obidi Emmanuel, said its membership registration had approached 10,000 within its first few months of establishment.
Obidi said the movement’s objectives include fostering leadership qualities among youths and building a new crop of leaders to sustain the political ideologies of the NDC leader.
He added that the group is also dedicated to supporting candidates of the NDC in the 2027 general election and ensuring that every vote for the party is protected from the polling unit until the declaration of results.
Responding, Dickson urged the group to extend its goals beyond the 2027 elections, stressing the need to nurture a new generation of political leaders committed to accountability, transparency and democratic governance.
He urged members to mobilise support for all NDC candidates, from the presidential ticket to the National Assembly and other elective positions, while ensuring that votes cast for the party were protected.
“Our message must be clear: one person, one vote; one youth, one vote; and every Nigerian’s vote must count,” he said.
Dickson also warned against the exploitation of poverty to influence voters, saying Nigerians should not be compelled to support political parties in exchange for handouts.
“No one should use poverty as an instrument to compel citizens to vote for a particular party or candidate,” he said.
He called on young Nigerians to support the NDC’s proposed agenda on security, education, healthcare, economic restructuring and national unity, while urging the movement to conduct peaceful, issue-based campaigns.
“Our party does not stand for violence or personal attacks. We want the ruling party to justify its claim to another term in office through its record of performance,” he said.
