Popular Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike, has condemned the alleged release of his voter registration details by Lere Olayinka, describing the action as a serious breach of privacy and an example of growing impunity in public office.
Ike, who recently contested for the House of Representatives ticket for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said he was prepared to take action against Olayinka over the incident.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the actor expressed outrage that his personal information was allegedly accessed and shared publicly through an administrative portal linked to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The controversy began after Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, made a post on X, formerly Twitter, regarding Ike’s voter registration status.
In the post, Olayinka claimed that the actor had previously been registered as a voter in Imo State before transferring his voter registration to the FCT on May 15.
The post reportedly included screenshots that many Nigerians believed were obtained from an INEC administrative page. The images allegedly contained sensitive personal information, including Ike’s application number, Voter Identification Number (VIN), registration centre, profile photograph, full name and date of application.
The disclosure quickly sparked criticism on social media, with many Nigerians raising concerns about data protection, privacy rights and the security of personal information held by government institutions.
Reacting to the development, Ike said he was shocked that a government official could allegedly gain access to a citizen’s personal information and release it to the public.
According to him, the incident raises serious questions about how personal data is handled and protected within public institutions.
“It’s quite shocking, extreme and it is the height of political rascality for a government officer to access a citizen’s information from the INEC cyber,” Ike said during the television interview.
The actor argued that the issue goes beyond his personal case and affects all Nigerians whose information is stored in government databases.
He warned that if public officials are allowed to access and publish private information without consequences, it could undermine public confidence in government agencies responsible for safeguarding citizens’ data.
“It tells you a lot and shows how much impunity we have flying around there. People have access to things they shouldn’t be having access to and that’s quite deplorable,” he said.
Ike further described the alleged disclosure as “a huge insult and slap” on Nigerians and political parties, saying it sent the wrong message about the protection of personal information.
According to him, the action suggested that private records could be obtained and exposed at will, regardless of the rights of citizens.
“He is telling every Nigerian that whoever you are, I can pull your information from anywhere and I can do what I want. That rascality needs to be stopped,” he added.
The actor also revealed that he was considering legal and other appropriate actions against Olayinka, insisting that his privacy had been violated.
“Actions are ready, I’m ready to take him on. He has no right to exploit my privacy and insult Nigerians the way he did. If he has been doing it in the past, this should be the last time he does it,” Ike stated.
The controversy comes shortly after Ike’s participation in the primary election for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Although he was unsuccessful in securing the party’s ticket, his entry into politics attracted significant public attention due to his popularity in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The latest dispute has also revived discussions about data privacy and the responsibilities of public officials in handling personal information.
In recent years, concerns over data protection have increased as government agencies and private organizations collect large amounts of personal information from Nigerians through voter registration, national identity registration, banking services and telecommunications activities.
Legal experts have repeatedly stressed that personal information held by public institutions should only be accessed and used for lawful purposes and in accordance with existing regulations.
Many Nigerians on social media have called for a thorough investigation into how the information was obtained and whether any laws or regulations governing data privacy were breached.
Some commentators argued that the issue should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to strengthen safeguards around citizens’ information, particularly data stored in sensitive government databases.
Others maintained that public trust in institutions such as INEC depends largely on assurances that personal records will remain secure and will not be used for political battles or personal disputes.
As public debate continues, attention is now focused on whether Ike will proceed with legal action and whether any official investigation will be launched into the circumstances surrounding the publication of his voter information.
For now, the actor remains firm in his position that the alleged disclosure of his personal details was unacceptable and must not be allowed to happen again.