NIGERIA: INEC Probes Alleged Unauthorised Access To Voter Database Following Leak Involving Actor Emeka Ike

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Independent National Electoral Commission has launched a thorough investigation into the alleged misuse of authorised access credentials and unauthorised disclosure of information from its Continuous Voter Registration database.

The incident came to light after sensitive voter details of Nollywood actor and political aspirant Emeka Ike were publicly shared online.

The controversy erupted last week when Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, posted screenshots on social media platform X revealing Emeka Ike’s voter registration records.

Ike, who hails from Imo State, had recently transferred his registration to the FCT on May 15, 2026, just days before he participated in primaries for a House of Representatives seat in the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency under the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Olayinka used the information to question Ike’s eligibility to contest in the FCT, highlighting the timing of the transfer.

The shared screenshots reportedly originated from INEC’s restricted administrative portal (cvradmin.inecnigeria.org), displaying details such as Ike’s application number, Voter Identification Number, registration centre, profile photograph, name, and system logs showing the transfer date. This backend system is accessible only to authorised INEC personnel for official duties, prompting widespread outrage over potential privacy violations and data security concerns. Emeka Ike has since threatened legal action against Olayinka, describing the leak as an unjustified exposure of his private information by a government official.

In its statement released today, INEC confirmed that preliminary findings from its audit trail identified the user account involved. The commission emphasised that there was no external hacking or breach of its broader ICT infrastructure affecting over 90 million registered voters. Instead, the data was accessed through valid credentials granted to personnel for the ongoing CVR exercise but allegedly released without authority. Relevant staff have been questioned, and a comprehensive review of technical, administrative, and operational factors is underway to establish responsibility and enforce protocols.

The Department of State Services has independently initiated its own investigation, with INEC pledging full cooperation and readiness to pursue legal action against anyone found culpable. National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, reiterated the commission’s commitment to protecting voter data confidentiality and integrity, urging the public to avoid speculation while investigations proceed.

The incident has raised broader questions about data handling during the nationwide CVR exercise and potential risks to electoral trust ahead of future polls, even as INEC maintains that the core voter database remains secure and uncompromised.

The commission promised to update the public on its final findings and actions in due course.