The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched a full-scale investigation into the alleged unauthorized release of voter information belonging to a political aspirant in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assuring Nigerians that there was no external breach or hacking of its voter registration database.
The commission disclosed on Tuesday that preliminary findings had already helped investigators trace the user account through which the information was accessed, while relevant personnel connected to the incident had been questioned.
INEC’s response comes amid growing public concern over the security of personal information stored in its voter registration database following the circulation of sensitive details belonging to actor and politician Emeka Ike.
The controversy erupted after information relating to Ike’s voter registration appeared on social media, triggering widespread criticism and raising questions about data protection and access to the commission’s records.
In a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC said it was treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission has been drawn to allegations currently circulating on social media and in some sections of the media regarding the alleged unauthorized access to the Commission’s Continuous Voter Registration database and the subsequent publication of information on a candidate in the recent primaries of a political party in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Commission takes this allegation seriously and has immediately commenced a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident,” the statement said.
According to the electoral body, the investigation is examining every aspect of the matter, including technical, operational and administrative procedures, to determine exactly how the information was accessed and whether any internal rules were violated.
INEC explained that authorised registration officers involved in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise are granted controlled access to certain sections of the registration system to perform official duties such as voter registration, transfer requests and updates to voter records.
The commission stressed that such access is strictly regulated and intended solely for official purposes.
It added that user privileges are withdrawn once registration exercises are completed.
As part of its investigation, INEC said it reviewed its audit trail, a digital record that tracks activities carried out on its systems.
According to the commission, the audit trail provided a crucial breakthrough.
“The audit trail from the preliminary investigation has enabled the Commission to identify the user account through which the information was accessed. Accordingly, relevant personnel have been questioned, and all units connected with the incident are cooperating fully with the investigation,” Haruna stated.
The commission, however, moved quickly to reassure Nigerians that there was no evidence of cyberattacks or hacking targeting its systems.
According to INEC, preliminary findings showed that the information was accessed using valid credentials assigned to personnel participating in the CVR exercise.
“Preliminary findings from the Commission’s audit trail so far indicate that there was no external breach of the CVR database, no hacking incident, and no unauthorized external access to the Commission’s ICT infrastructure.
“Rather, the information in question was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise but released without authority,” the commission said.
INEC further clarified that the incident involved only the retrieval of a specific voter record and did not suggest that the broader voter registration system had been compromised.
The commission noted that the personal information of more than 90 million registered voters remained secure.
“The incident under investigation relates to the retrieval of a specific voter record and does not indicate any compromise of the Commission’s broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of over 90 million registered voters,” the statement added.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting voter information and preserving public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that it takes the security, confidentiality and integrity of voter data with the utmost seriousness and remains committed to transparency, institutional integrity, and the protection of voters’ personal information,” Haruna said.
INEC also revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had independently begun its own investigation into the incident.
According to the commission, it would continue to cooperate fully with security agencies and would ensure that anyone found responsible faces the consequences of their actions.
“Furthermore, the Department of State Services, on its own accord, has commenced an independent investigation into the matter. The Commission will continue to cooperate fully with all relevant security agencies and will not hesitate to refer any person found culpable for appropriate legal action,” the statement added.
The controversy stems from a social media post involving actor Emeka Ike, who recently participated in the primary election for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat in the FCT under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ike, who hails from Imo State, lost in the primary election but subsequently became the centre of public attention after details of his voter registration surfaced online.
The information was posted by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a post on his X account, Olayinka stated that Ike was originally registered as a voter in Imo State before transferring his registration to the FCT.
The post included screenshots that appeared to have been obtained from an INEC administrative portal.
The images reportedly contained sensitive personal details, including Ike’s application number, registration centre, Voter Identification Number (VIN), profile photograph, full name and date of application.
The publication immediately attracted criticism from many Nigerians, who questioned how such information became publicly available.
Data protection advocates and political observers expressed concern over the potential misuse of personal information stored in government databases.
Reacting to the development during an appearance on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief*, Ike strongly condemned the disclosure.
The actor described the incident as shocking and accused Olayinka of violating his privacy.
He argued that no government official had the right to access and publicly release a citizen’s personal information.
Ike also indicated that he was prepared to pursue legal action over the matter.
The incident has reignited discussions about data privacy, accountability and the responsibilities of public officials who have access to sensitive government records.
As investigations by both INEC and the DSS continue, attention is now focused on whether internal procedures were breached and whether disciplinary or legal actions will follow.
For many Nigerians, the outcome of the investigation will be closely watched as a test of the country’s commitment to protecting personal data and maintaining trust in public institutions.
INEC has urged members of the public and the media to avoid speculation while investigations continue, assuring that its findings and any actions taken would be made public at the appropriate time.