Former Kogi West senator alleges widespread irregularities in INEC's voter registration database, claims duplicated photographs and questions a reported 1,000% increase in registered voters at Edo governor's polling unit.

A former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly working in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Melaye, who expressed concern over the credibility of the electoral body, alleged that INEC was creating conditions that could facilitate electoral manipulation in favour of the ruling party.

Speaking during an interview on Monday, the former lawmaker described INEC's handling of the voter registration process as a failure, accusing the commission of violating provisions of the Electoral Act.

He specifically raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the newly compiled voters' register, including the reported duplication of photographs and what he described as questionable data generated through artificial intelligence (AI).

According to Melaye, the voter registration database reportedly failed an integrity test, with an alleged 89 per cent AI-related irregularity.

"INEC is helping the APC to rig the 2027 elections. There is repetition of photographs on INEC's voter registration. It failed an integrity test showing AI imputation by 89 per cent," he alleged.

The former senator also accused INEC of failing to comply with the legal requirement to publish voters' registers within the stipulated period.

He argued that the commission had exceeded the 90-day deadline provided under the law for the publication of the voters' lists, describing the alleged delay as a serious breach of the Electoral Act.

"INEC has contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act. When you have an organisation that is a lawbreaker, you have an institution that has broken the very law it is supposed to implement; then there is a problem," Melaye said.

He further questioned the figures in the newly compiled voters' register, citing an alleged dramatic increase in the number of registered voters at the polling unit where the Edo State governor casts his vote.

According to him, the polling unit reportedly had more than 400 registered voters during the election that brought the governor to power about two years ago.

However, Melaye claimed that the same polling unit now has more than 4,000 registered voters in the latest INEC database, representing an increase of over 1,000 per cent.

He expressed concern over the alleged discrepancy, questioning how such a significant increase could occur without attracting the attention of relevant authorities.

"The polling unit of the governor of Edo State had over 400 voters in the election that put him as governor two years ago. In the new INEC register, that same polling unit has more than 4,000 voters. That is an increase of over 1,000 per cent, and nothing is happening in Edo State," he added.

Melaye's allegations have raised fresh questions about the transparency and credibility of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the claims concerning the alleged voter register irregularities and the figures cited by the former senator require independent verification. INEC's response to the allegations was not included in the remarks provided.