AfriPulse
Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been questioned by the police over the alleged leak of voter information from the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Investigators from the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) reportedly interrogated Olayinka on Tuesday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the probe centres on allegations of cyber-related offences, unauthorised use of a database, and the disclosure of classified national documents.
A yet-to-be-identified INEC official has also been detained at the FID-IRT facility in connection with the matter.
TheCable reported that the investigation was triggered by a formal complaint filed on behalf of INEC, alleging criminal conspiracy, cyber intimidation, and the unauthorised release of classified documents.
The controversy began after Olayinka shared screenshots on X showing details of Nollywood actor Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.
Olayinka posted the information while questioning the actor-turned-politician’s eligibility to contest a House of Representatives seat in the FCT following Ike’s protest over the primaries of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The post sparked widespread criticism, with many Nigerians accusing Olayinka of obtaining unauthorised access to a password-protected system intended solely for INEC officials.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC dismissed reports of a major breach or external hacking of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database.
The commission said the unauthorised disclosure of Ike’s voter information resulted from the misuse of valid internal credentials by an authorised official.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the INEC official allegedly initiated contact with Olayinka to provide what was described as evidence that Ike had only recently requested a voter registration transfer and that the application had not yet been approved.
The official reportedly contacted Olayinka through Facebook Messenger before sending the voter registration document via WhatsApp.
During questioning, Olayinka reportedly told investigators that he had no prior relationship with the electoral officer and did not know him before the exchange.
Sources said Olayinka maintained that he was unaware the documents were classified and that the INEC official never informed him that the information was confidential.
Apart from the police investigation, the Department of State Services (DSS) is also reportedly probing the release of the voter data.
TheCable further reported that the Nigeria Police Force is considering charges against Olayinka and the INEC official, including criminal conspiracy, cyber-related offences, unlawful dissemination of classified documents, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
Source: PmNewsNigeria | Read the Full Story…
