Nigeria Data Protection Commission investigates alleged INEC voter data leak involving Emeka Ike

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission NDPC has launched an investigation into the alleged leak of voter information concerning Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike. The commission is engaging with both the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and Emeka Ike as part of its probe. Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, stated that the matter is being treated with urgency due to its implications for electoral integrity and public trust. This development follows controversy surrounding the publication of Emeka Ike's voter registration details by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory on Information. Olayinka shared what appeared to be Ike's voter information via an INEC administrative webpage, including personal details like application number, registration center, Voter Identification Number, profile picture, name, and date of application. This sparked concerns about unauthorized access to INEC's database. INEC has denied a major breach, attributing the incident to the misuse of valid internal credentials by authorized personnel rather than a cyberattack. The NDPC confirmed meeting with relevant parties and initiating the investigation, emphasizing that it follows established procedures for data breach allegations and prioritizes cases based on severity and impact on data subjects. The commission also revealed it is collaborating with INEC to improve data protection awar