Electoral commission launches investigation, says audit trail traced access to internal credentials as DSS also steps in

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened a formal investigation into allegations of unauthorized access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database following the circulation of actor Emeka Ike’s voter information on social media.

The controversy erupted after Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly shared Emeka Ike’s voter registration details online shortly after the actor publicly declared political interest in the FCT.

The published data quickly sparked concerns over how such sensitive information was obtained, with critics alleging that it may have been extracted from INEC’s restricted administrative portal rather than its public-facing systems. The development raised fresh questions about the security of Nigeria’s electoral data infrastructure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement addressing the incident, INEC confirmed it has commenced a full-scale investigation into what it described as a possible case of credential misuse. According to the commission, initial audit findings have already helped identify the specific user account linked to the access, and relevant staff are currently being questioned.

INEC, however, clarified that early findings do not indicate any external cyberattack or breach of its systems. Instead, the commission suggested that the data may have been accessed using valid login credentials that were either misused or improperly shared.

The electoral body further assured the public that the incident appears to be isolated, affecting only a single voter record, and does not reflect a broader compromise of its national voter database.

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has also launched an independent investigation into the matter, signaling heightened federal scrutiny over the alleged breach.

INEC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding voter information and warned that any individual found culpable after the investigation would face appropriate disciplinary and legal consequences.

The incident has continued to generate debate across political and civic circles, with many calling for stronger data protection measures within Nigeria’s electoral system.