The Independent National Electoral Commission has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant Emeka Ike over the publication of his voter registration details.
INEC argued that information contained in the register of voters is legally accessible to the public and does not enjoy the confidentiality claimed by the actor.
The commission stated its position in a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026.
The affidavit was deposed to by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer in INEC’s Legal Drafting and Clearance Department.
Ike instituted the action against INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alleging that his constitutional right to privacy and personal data protection was violated when his voter registration details were published on X.
He is asking the court to award him ₦10 billion in damages over the alleged breach.
INEC, however, maintained that voter information is published in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026 and that the commission does not require the consent of each registered voter before displaying or making the register available for public scrutiny.
The electoral body argued that its constitutional and statutory duties include compiling, maintaining, displaying, publishing and managing the national register of voters under the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
INEC further contended that the information complained of was neither confidential nor sensitive personal data.
The commission also denied being the source of the document allegedly published by Olayinka, insisting that the disputed material did not originate from it.
Olayinka, through his lawyer, Akpama Ekwe, similarly asked the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the information he circulated was already publicly available and could be lawfully accessed.
He maintained that the publication contained only Ike’s name and passport photograph and did not disclose confidential information or amount to an unlawful invasion of privacy.
Olayinka argued that a person seeking elective office could not reasonably claim to have suffered trauma merely because information voluntarily supplied during the electoral process was circulated.
According to him, Ike had already projected himself as a politician and public figure and could not treat his basic electoral information as secret.
The FCT minister’s aide also relied on Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires INEC to display and publish the register of voters before a general election to allow members of the public to scrutinise it and raise objections where necessary.
He maintained that the statutory publication of the voters’ register was intended to promote transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
INEC consequently urged the court to find that the publication of information lawfully contained in the voters’ register did not amount to a violation of Ike’s privacy or data-protection rights.
The commission also asked the court to reject the actor’s claim for ₦10 billion in damages for lacking legal and factual foundation.
After hearing submissions from the parties, the trial judge adjourned the case until October 12, 2026, for hearing.
The court has not determined the merits of Ike’s claims or the objections raised by INEC and Olayinka.
The post “Voter Register Is Public, Not Confidential” — INEC Asks Court To Dismiss Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn Privacy Suit appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.