AfriPulse
The controversy surrounding the publication of Nollywood actor Emeka Ike’s voter registration details has deepened, with his legal team threatening legal action against Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The lawyers also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the incident raises serious concerns about data privacy, electoral integrity, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the legal team described the online circulation of information allegedly obtained from INEC’s database as a grave violation of privacy rights.
Ike, a veteran actor, is seeking election to represent the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The contest marks his second attempt at elective office.
His opponents include Micah Jiba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), John Gabaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the incumbent lawmaker, Joshua Obika of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ike previously contested a House of Representatives seat in 2018 under the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in Imo State’s Ideato South Constituency but lost to Paschal Obi of the Action Alliance (AA).
The lawyers questioned how sensitive voter information found its way into the public domain, arguing that the incident exposed potential weaknesses in the protection of personal data entrusted to public institutions.
The controversy erupted after Olayinka posted details from Ike’s voter registration record on social media while questioning the actor’s eligibility to contest for a legislative seat in the FCT.
‘Serious Breach of Privacy’ — Lawyer
Addressing journalists, lead counsel Leonard Adeh said the issue extends beyond his client and touches on the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“I view this very saddening situation from two perspectives. First, regarding my client, Honourable Emeka Ike, I believe this action by Lere is a serious criminal breach of his right to privacy,” Adeh said.
“The INEC database is one of the most sensitive and highly secured databases in the country. On the other hand, this incident represents a serious blow to public trust in INEC and strikes directly at the credibility of the electoral process.”
Adeh said he and his client were shocked that highly sensitive information could be publicly disclosed through social media.
According to him, Olayinka’s actions not only embarrassed Ike but also undermined democratic values and raised concerns about national security.
“It is a serious offence against his person, and appropriate legal action will be taken accordingly.
“We are reviewing the situation and taking the necessary steps to involve relevant law enforcement agencies while also considering civil action. This reckless action will attract consequential damages,” he said.
‘Nobody’s Data Is Safe’
Another member of the legal team, Abdulhameed Otori, said the incident suggested that no Nigerian’s personal data was safe if information belonging to a public figure such as Ike could be leaked.
“If they can do this to a well-known personality under whatever guise, then nobody’s data is safe,” Otori said.
He called on Olayinka to withdraw the social media post and publicly apologise, while urging INEC to take concrete steps to restore public confidence.
“We all demand that he retract the post and issue a public apology. INEC must also go beyond issuing a press statement and take meaningful steps to address the issue,” he said.
Otori further urged INEC to demonstrate transparency and impartiality ahead of future elections.
“This is not a matter that should be swept under the carpet. It is a weighty issue. INEC must act transparently and ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” he added.
INEC Launches Investigation
Meanwhile, INEC has launched an investigation into the incident.
In a statement signed by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission said it was taking the matter seriously.
“The Commission takes this allegation seriously and has immediately commenced a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident,” the statement said.
INEC explained that authorised registration officers participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise were granted controlled access to certain components of the voter registration system for official purposes.
The commission stressed that the information allegedly disclosed by Olayinka was intended strictly for official use.
INEC said it was examining all technical, administrative, and operational aspects of the incident to determine individual responsibility and establish how the information was accessed and released.
No Database Breach, Says INEC
According to INEC, preliminary findings indicate that there was no external breach of its database or hacking of its information technology infrastructure.
“The audit trail from the preliminary investigation enabled the Commission to identify the user account used to access the information. Relevant personnel have been questioned, and all units connected to the incident are cooperating fully with the investigation,” the statement said.
INEC added that the information was accessed using valid user credentials assigned to personnel involved in the CVR exercise but was released without authorisation.
“The incident relates to the retrieval of a specific voter record and does not indicate any compromise of the Commission’s broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of over 90 million registered voters,” the commission stated.
INEC also disclosed that it was reviewing internal access-control procedures and would take disciplinary action against anyone found culpable.
DSS Begins Separate Probe
The commission further revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had independently commenced an investigation into the matter.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting voter information and maintaining the integrity of its electoral systems.
“The Commission takes the security, confidentiality, and integrity of voter data with the utmost seriousness and remains committed to transparency, institutional integrity, and the protection of voters’ personal information,” the statement added.
It pledged full cooperation with security agencies and vowed to ensure that anyone found responsible faces appropriate legal consequences.
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