The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has provided fresh details on how confidential voter information belonging to actor and politician Emeka Ike was disclosed to Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to the electoral commission, preliminary investigations indicate that the incident did not result from an external cyberattack or breach of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database.
Instead, the disclosure stemmed from the misuse of authorized internal access by personnel who had legitimate credentials to access parts of the voter registration system.
The controversy began after Olayinka shared screenshots on social media showing details of Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.
The publication sparked widespread concerns over data privacy and the security of voter information held by the electoral commission.
INEC stated that officials involved in voter registration, transfers, and updates are granted controlled access to specific components of the CVR system to perform their duties.
However, the commission said available evidence suggests that information relating to Ike’s voter record was improperly accessed and subsequently disclosed outside official procedures.
The commission emphasized that its broader voter database, which contains records of more than 90 million registered voters, was not compromised.
It maintained that the incident was linked to the misuse of an internal account rather than a systemic breach of its digital infrastructure.
INEC has since launched a full investigation into the matter and pledged to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the disclosure.
The commission said it takes allegations involving unauthorized access to voter information seriously and is committed to protecting the integrity of its systems.
Emeka Ike, who recently participated in a primary election for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the FCT, condemned the publication of his personal details and threatened legal action.
He described the disclosure as an invasion of privacy and questioned how information from a restricted electoral platform became publicly available.
The incident has reignited debates about data protection, cybersecurity, and the handling of sensitive voter information in Nigeria.
Civil society groups and political observers have called for stronger safeguards to prevent unauthorized disclosures and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, investigations by security agencies and electoral authorities are ongoing.
INEC says appropriate actions will be taken against any individuals found to have violated established protocols governing access to voter information.