- The former vice president argued that INEC’s explanation of the incident had failed to address critical concerns
- He linked the controversy to recent political comments made by Wike regarding the 2027 presidential election
- The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress said the matter has become a test of the independence
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the recent unauthorised release of voter information from the Independent National Electoral Commission database, warning that the incident could undermine public confidence in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Atiku said the development had raised serious questions about the security of Nigeria’s electoral system and the neutrality of institutions responsible for managing elections.
The former vice president argued that INEC’s explanation of the incident had failed to address critical concerns.
While the commission stated that there was no external cyberattack on its systems, it acknowledged that voter information was accessed using valid official credentials and subsequently released without authorisation.
According to Atiku, that admission alone should be a source of concern for Nigerians, as it points to possible weaknesses in internal controls and data protection measures.
He maintained that the absence of hacking does not lessen the gravity of the incident but instead shifts attention to how sensitive information could be accessed and disclosed from within the system.
Atiku also questioned the circumstances surrounding the publication of the voter data, noting that the information was released by Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He linked the controversy to recent political comments made by Wike regarding the 2027 presidential election, saying Nigerians deserve clarity on whether any political actors have undue influence over institutions expected to remain impartial.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress said the matter has become a test of the independence and credibility of the country’s electoral framework.
He called for a comprehensive account of how the voter information was obtained, demanding transparency regarding who accessed the data, who authorised its release and how it eventually became public.
Atiku stressed that confidence in the 2027 elections would depend not only on the conduct of the polls themselves but also on how institutions handle issues of accountability and transparency in the period leading up to the elections.
While welcoming INEC’s disclosure that it had identified the user account involved and questioned relevant personnel, he said those steps represented only the initial stage of the investigation.
The former vice president also welcomed the separate probe launched by the Department of State Services, expressing hope that the investigation would be thorough, independent and transparent.
He warned that failure to establish full accountability could further erode public trust in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election, urging authorities to ensure that all questions surrounding the incident are fully addressed.
