The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) publicly disclose the names, official designations and positions of all officials allegedly involved in the AI-generated images scandal rocking the Commission’s voter registration portal.
The COPDEM National Youth Leader, Mr Akor Christian Oche, popularly known as Due Process, made the demands during a live media chat on News Central TV on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, where he addressed the controversy surrounding suspected AI-generated photographs on INEC’s preliminary voters’ register and reiterated the Coalition’s demand for accountability, transparency and the removal of the INEC Chairman.
COPDEM said Nigerians deserve more than vague assurances that disciplinary measures have been taken against officials implicated in the controversy. The organisation insists that INEC must demonstrate transparency by publishing the identities and official designations of those involved, the nature of their respective offences, the findings of any internal investigation and the disciplinary actions allegedly taken against them.
According to the organisation, the controversy surrounding the appearance of suspected AI-generated photographs on INEC’s preliminary voters’ register has raised serious questions about the credibility, integrity and reliability of the Commission’s electoral database ahead of the 2027 general elections.
COPDEM argued that if INEC genuinely investigated the matter and sanctioned those responsible, there should be no justification for withholding the identities and official positions of the affected officials, subject to due process and applicable legal protections.
The organisation maintained that Nigerians have a constitutional and democratic interest in knowing whether the irregularities resulted from administrative negligence, deliberate manipulation, professional misconduct or a more coordinated attempt to compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
His concerns come amid INEC’s own acknowledgement that its biometric system flagged 268,000 records for suspected AI-generated photographs and other irregularities. The Commission has said it is reviewing and cleaning up the affected records.
He insisted that the Commission’s assurances would not be sufficient without publicly verifiable evidence, reiterating COPDEM’s demand for the publication of the names and official designations of implicated officials, disclosure of disciplinary measures and an independent forensic audit of the voters’ register.
Nigerians Deserve Evidence, Not Public Relations Statements
COPDEM warned that INEC cannot expect Nigerians to accept claims of disciplinary action without verifiable evidence.
It said the Commission must publish an official report detailing the outcome of its investigation, including the number of officials affected, their designations, the specific infractions established and the sanctions imposed.
The organisation stressed that transparency is not a favour INEC can extend to Nigerians but a fundamental obligation of an institution entrusted with managing the country’s electoral process.
COPDEM further observed that public confidence in INEC has been seriously weakened by the controversy, warning that the Commission cannot continue to demand unquestioning public trust while failing to provide satisfactory explanations for issues capable of undermining electoral credibility.
COPDEM Renews Call for INEC Chairman’s Sack
In a renewed demand, COPDEM called for the removal of the INEC Chairman, arguing that the AI-generated images controversy represents a serious institutional failure that raises questions about the Commission’s leadership, supervision and internal accountability mechanisms.
The organisation maintained that the credibility of the 2027 general elections cannot be left in the hands of an electoral institution struggling to convince Nigerians that its own voter registration database is reliable.
According to COPDEM, the controversy is too serious to be treated as an ordinary technical error, particularly at a time when political parties, civil society organisations and millions of Nigerians are intensifying preparations for the next general elections.
The Coalition warned that any unresolved doubt surrounding the authenticity of the national voters’ register could become a major source of electoral disputes, public distrust and political instability.
It therefore demanded:
* Immediate publication of the names and official designations of INEC officials implicated in the AI-generated images scandal.
* Publication of the full findings of the Commission’s internal investigation.
* Disclosure of the specific disciplinary actions taken against the affected officials.
* An independent forensic audit of the preliminary voters’ register to establish its authenticity and reliability.
* Public disclosure of measures being implemented to prevent similar irregularities.
* Immediate removal of the INEC Chairman to restore public confidence in the electoral institution.
COPDEM emphasised that Nigeria cannot afford an electoral crisis in 2027 and that the credibility of the election must be established long before polling day.
The Coalition concluded that Nigerians deserve an electoral commission that is transparent, accountable, independent and above suspicion, insisting that the burden of restoring public confidence rests squarely on INEC’s leadership.
“Nigerians cannot be expected to trust an electoral umpire that refuses to provide verifiable answers to questions concerning the integrity of its own voters’ register. Democracy requires transparency, accountability and public confidence. INEC must come clean.”
COPDEM reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring that every eligible Nigerian’s vote counts in 2027.
