The Nigerian Data Protection Commission has disclosed that it is investigating the Independent National Electoral Commission and the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, over an alleged data breach involving the personal information of Emeka Ike.
The National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, made the disclosure on Friday during a media roundtable in Abuja held as part of activities marking the commission’s third anniversary.
Olatunji said the investigation followed the recent publication of Emeka Ike’s personal data, allegedly by Olayinka, adding that the matter had become urgent because of its connection to INEC’s database and the approaching election period.
“We are investigating INEC and Lere Olayinka on the data breach that has to do with Emeka Ike’s personal data that has been made public by Lere Olayinka,” he said.
According to him, the commission is giving priority attention to the INEC aspect of the matter because of the sensitivity of electoral data and its implication for public confidence in the electoral process.
“Look at the likely outcome that we now prioritise the one of INEC, which is really sensitive. We are moving towards elections. It speaks to the credibility of the database. It’s of utmost urgency, and we are moving immediately,” Olatunji said.
He disclosed that INEC officials had appeared before the commission twice within the period under review as part of the ongoing investigation.
“Emeka Ike is downstairs now to speak. INEC were here last week, and they were here again this week. No matter who you are, we invite you,” he said.
The NDPC boss said the commission would continue to invite and investigate any person or organisation linked to alleged data protection violations, regardless of status or influence.
“No matter how big you are, we invite you, and we take the necessary actions,” he added.
Olatunji cited previous regulatory actions involving major organisations such as Meta, TikTok, Temu, Remita and Sterling Bank as examples of the commission’s enforcement approach.
He, however, stressed that the NDPC would not rush to pronounce any person or institution guilty until investigations are concluded.
“But we have to be very diligent and not push out a wrong narrative out there. Even when you go to court, until you are proven guilty, you can’t pronounce anybody guilty,” he said.
“So that’s why we are very meticulous in the way we carry out investigations. And we don’t really push out. We are investigating.”
Speaking on the commission’s achievements, Olatunji said the NDPC had generated over ₦8 billion for the Federal Government in the past four years and had also helped create a data protection ecosystem valued at about $12 billion.
He added that the commission is working with the National Universities Commission to incorporate data protection into Nigeria’s educational curriculum and other sectors of society.
Olatunji said the goal of the commission is to build a trustworthy data ecosystem that will attract investors, strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy and ensure that personal data is handled responsibly.
