- the matter is being treated as a serious breach allegation, prompting an immediate review of how the information was accessed
- The commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding voter information
- Ike described the disclosure as disturbing and indicated that he was considering legal action over the incident
The Independent National Electoral Commission has launched an investigation into allegations that information from its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database was accessed and published without authorisation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission was examining claims that details relating to a candidate who participated in a recent political party primary in the Federal Capital Territory were improperly obtained and circulated.
EDITOR’S PICK
- APM Endorses Makinde For 2027 Presidency, Targets PDP Members In Osun
- Eredo Monarchs Suspend Ojude Oba Celebrations in Honour of Late Omola of Odomola
- “Do Not Cheat Back”—Actress Eriata Ese Warns Women Against Revenge Infidelity
According to INEC, the matter is being treated as a serious breach allegation, prompting an immediate review of how the information was accessed.
The commission explained that officials participating in the ongoing nationwide voter registration exercise are granted limited access to designated sections of the CVR system to carry out registration, transfers and voter data updates. Such access, it noted, is strictly controlled and restricted to official assignments.
Haruna disclosed that preliminary checks of the system’s audit records had enabled investigators to trace the account used to retrieve the information.
He added that personnel linked to the account had already been questioned, while relevant departments were cooperating with the investigation.
INEC stated that its inquiry is examining whether any internal procedures governing access to voter information were breached and identifying those responsible for the release of the data.
However, the electoral body stressed that initial findings do not indicate any cyberattack or external compromise of its information technology infrastructure.
According to the commission, the information was accessed through legitimate user credentials assigned to officials involved in the voter registration exercise but was allegedly disclosed without proper authorisation.
INEC further clarified that the incident involved a single voter record and did not affect the broader voter database or the personal information of more than 90 million registered voters nationwide.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding voter information, maintaining the confidentiality of personal data and protecting the integrity of its electoral systems.
It also revealed that the Department of State Services has begun a separate investigation into the matter. INEC pledged full cooperation with security agencies and warned that anyone found culpable would face legal consequences.
The controversy follows allegations that personal voter information belonging to actor and politician Emeka Ike was exposed online.
Ike, who contested the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency seat in the FCT under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, accused Lere Olayinka of publishing details allegedly obtained from an INEC administrative portal.
The shared screenshots reportedly contained personal information, including voter registration details, photographs and identification records.
Reacting to the development, Ike described the disclosure as disturbing and indicated that he was considering legal action over the incident.
FURTHER READING
