The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into an alleged leak of voter information involving Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike, engaging both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the actor as part of its probe.
The development follows controversy over the publication of what appeared to be Ike’s voter registration details by a Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Information, Lere Olayinka, sparking concerns over possible unauthorised access to INEC’s database.
INEC, however, denied any major breach of its Continuous Voter Registration system, explaining that the incident resulted from the misuse of valid internal credentials rather than a cyberattack.
Speaking on the matter in Abuja, NDPC National Commissioner and CEO, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the commission had already engaged the relevant parties and was treating the case with urgency due to its implications for electoral integrity and public trust.
He said the case was particularly sensitive given the approach of elections, noting that it raises questions about the credibility of Nigeria’s voter database.
According to him, the NDPC is handling the investigation in line with due process, assessing the severity, scale and sensitivity of the alleged breach before drawing conclusions.
Olatunji added that the commission investigates all reported data breaches regardless of the individuals or institutions involved, stressing that organisations are also assessed on their overall compliance with data protection regulations.
He further disclosed that the NDPC is collaborating with INEC to improve data protection awareness among political parties, many of which collect large volumes of personal data without adequate safeguards.
The commission also revealed ongoing efforts to translate the Nigeria Data Protection Act into major Nigerian languages and expand public awareness campaigns on privacy rights across communities.
