The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched a probe into claims of unauthorised access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database after details relating to a candidate in a recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory surfaced online.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the electoral body was handling the matter with serious concern.
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According to the statement, the commission became aware of reports circulating on social media and in parts of the mainstream media alleging that sensitive information from the CVR database had been improperly accessed and published in connection with a candidate who participated in a political party primary in the FCT.
Haruna stated that INEC had immediately initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The commission explained that during the ongoing nationwide CVR exercise, designated registration officials were granted limited access to specific areas of the voter registration system to enable them process voter registration, transfer applications and updates to voter information.
INEC noted that such access is strictly tied to official assignments and is revoked once the exercise ends.
The commission further disclosed that its preliminary audit trail had already helped trace the specific user account through which the information was accessed.
According to the statement, officials connected to the account have been interrogated, while all departments linked to the incident are cooperating fully with investigators.
INEC added that it is reviewing the technical, operational and administrative components of the matter to establish accountability and determine whether internal access protocols were breached.
However, the commission maintained that early findings indicated there was no external intrusion into its systems.
It stated that investigations so far showed there was no hacking of the CVR database or unlawful external access to the commission’s ICT infrastructure.
Rather, the information was reportedly obtained through legitimate login credentials assigned to personnel involved in the ongoing CVR exercise, but the data was allegedly disclosed without authorisation.
INEC stressed that the case under investigation concerns the retrieval of a single voter’s record and does not point to any compromise of the larger voter registration infrastructure or the personal information of more than 90 million registered voters nationwide.
The electoral body reiterated its commitment to safeguarding voter information and preserving the integrity of its systems.
It assured Nigerians that the confidentiality, security and integrity of voter data remain a top priority, while reaffirming its dedication to transparency and institutional accountability.
INEC also revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had independently begun its own investigation into the matter.
The commission pledged continued cooperation with security agencies and warned that anyone found responsible would face appropriate legal action.
It also appealed to the public and media organisations to avoid speculation while investigations are ongoing, promising that the outcome of the probe and any measures taken would be made public at the appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has threatened legal action against Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged exposure of his personal details from INEC’s portal.
Ike, who hails from Imo State, contested for the House of Representatives seat representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the FCT under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress but was unsuccessful.
Olayinka recently faced backlash after posting what appeared to be Ike’s voter details from an INEC administrative platform.
In a post shared on his X account on Saturday, Olayinka claimed that Ike was initially registered as a voter in Imo State before transferring his registration to the FCT.
The post included two screenshots which many social media users alleged were obtained through INEC’s administrative login system.
Details visible in the images reportedly included Ike’s application number, registration centre, Voter Identification Number, photograph, full name and application date.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Ike condemned the incident, describing the action as disturbing and an example of extreme political recklessness.
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