ABUJA – Nigerians have raised serious concerns over potential violations of the country’s data protection laws following the public disclosure of personal voter information allegedly sourced from a restricted portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The controversy erupted after Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, posted screenshots on social media showing the personal details of a voter identified as Emeka Ike. Olayinka, who is reportedly working for an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election, shared images containing the voter’s registration record, profile photograph, registration centre details, application number, and Voter Identification Number (VIN).
Analysts and civil society groups argue that the publication of such sensitive information constitutes a breach of privacy rights and raises serious concerns about the protection of personal data in Nigeria. They warn that the incident could erode public confidence in the security of electoral records.
“If Lere Olayinka, a member of an opposition party, could access such sensitive data from INEC, then serious questions must be asked about the security of the commission’s database and whether voter records are vulnerable to unauthorised access or manipulation,” a data privacy expert said.
Several legal observers believe Emeka Ike has strong grounds to pursue legal action against both Lere Olayinka and INEC over alleged violations of data protection and privacy regulations, if it is established that his confidential information was improperly accessed or disclosed.
The incident has also reignited debate over accountability in public institutions. Critics have questioned the lack of an immediate response from electoral authorities and security agencies despite the public circulation of what appears to be restricted voter data.
Observers further noted that, unlike in previous cases, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, and other government officials are yet to publicly call for an investigation or prosecution of Lere Olayinka over the disclosure.
With INEC yet to issue an official statement, pressure is mounting on the electoral body to explain how the information was obtained, whether its systems were compromised, and what measures will be taken to safeguard voter data ahead of the 2027 elections.
The controversy is expected to intensify calls for stronger cybersecurity safeguards and stricter enforcement of Nigeria’s data protection framework.
