…Says Access Came Through Valid Internal Credentials
…Staff Questioned as Investigation Intensifies
…Over 90 Million Voter Records Reportedly Remain Intact
Daud Olatunji
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out any external hacking or cyber intrusion in the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged leak of voter registration data linked to a top aide of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The Commission, however, confirmed that a full-scale investigation has been launched into how restricted voter information was accessed and allegedly circulated on social media, triggering public concern over the security of Nigeria’s electoral database.
The controversy centres on Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the FCT Minister, who reportedly shared voter registration details online while commenting on the movement of a Nollywood actor’s voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.
The post, which appeared to reference data from INEC’s internal Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) platform, quickly sparked outrage, with critics questioning how sensitive electoral information could be publicly displayed.
In a statement on Tuesday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said preliminary investigations indicated no external breach of INEC systems.
He explained that the data was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to authorised registration personnel engaged in the ongoing CVR exercise, ruling out hacking or unauthorised external intrusion into the Commission’s ICT infrastructure.
According to INEC, audit trail analysis has already identified the user account linked to the access, while relevant staff members have been questioned as part of efforts to establish accountability and determine the extent of any internal breach of protocol.
The Commission said the incident appeared to involve the retrieval and subsequent unauthorised dissemination of a specific voter record, rather than any compromise of the broader national voter database, which contains details of over 90 million registered voters.
INEC further clarified that its ICT systems and voter register remain secure, stressing that the incident did not undermine the integrity of its infrastructure or expose the entire voter database.
It added that access to the CVR platform is strictly controlled, time-bound, and automatically withdrawn once assigned operational duties are completed, in line with established security protocols.
The electoral body also confirmed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has commenced a parallel investigation into the matter, adding that it would fully cooperate with security agencies to ensure that any individuals found culpable are held accountable.
The DSS is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged leakage as part of broader national security concerns relating to the protection of sensitive electoral data.
INEC urged members of the public to avoid speculation while investigations continue, assuring Nigerians of its commitment to safeguarding voter information and maintaining confidence in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the development has continued to generate political reactions, particularly because of the involvement of a senior aide to Wike, although no formal indictment has been made against any individual.
The Commission said it would announce further details and possible disciplinary or legal actions at the conclusion of its ongoing investigation.
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