Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an independent and transparent investigation into the leak of Nollywood actor Emeka Ike's voter registration details, which were shared online by Lere Olayinka, media aide to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. Olayinka posted screenshots on X showing Ike's voter transfer from Imo State to Abuja, sourcing the data from what appeared to be INEC's restricted administrative portal. The post emerged as Ike was reportedly contesting a House of Representatives seat in Abuja, prompting questions about his eligibility. Many Nigerians condemned Olayinka's actions, accusing him of accessing a secure INEC system without authorisation. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) responded by denying a major external breach of its continuous voter registration database. Instead, INEC stated that the leak resulted from the misuse of internal login credentials by authorised personnel. In a statement released Tuesday, Atiku, through his senior special assistant on public communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the incident raises troubling concerns about internal oversight at INEC. He described the unauthorised disclosure as a serious breach of data privacy and electoral integrity. Atiku emphasized the need for accountability, calling for a full probe into how sensitive voter information was accessed and disseminated. INEC has not named the official who may have provided Olayinka access, nor has it confirmed any disciplinary action. The commission reiterated that no external hacking occurred, maintaining the integrity of its central database. However, it acknowledged that insider misuse of access privileges remains a vulnerability. No date was given for any internal review or findings. The matter now rests on whether an independent body will step in to examine the chain of custody for the leaked data.
A senior aide to a federal minister obtained private voter data through internal INEC credentials, not a cyberattack, yet no official has been identified or sanctioned. Atiku's call for an inquiry exposes that accountability gaps persist even after INEC confirmed insider involvement. If authorised personnel can leak data without consequence, public trust in electoral privacy erodes further. The absence of disciplinary measures so far signals tolerance for misuse at high levels.
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