Atiku Demands Independent Probe Into Alleged INEC Voter Data Leak Linked to Emeka Ike Case

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the alleged unauthorised release of voter registration details belonging to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike.

The controversy stems from a social media post by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who shared screenshots on X allegedly showing Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer details from Imo State to Abuja.

The post raised concerns after it appeared to originate from a restricted administrative portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), sparking public outrage over possible misuse of sensitive electoral data.

INEC Responds to Allegations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later issued a statement dismissing claims of external hacking into its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database.

According to the commission, the incident did not result from an external breach but rather the misuse of valid internal credentials by authorised personnel, leading to unauthorised disclosure of voter information.

Atiku Demands Accountability

In a statement issued by his aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said INEC’s admission raises serious concerns about internal controls and data security within the electoral body.

He stressed that Nigerians deserve clarity on how sensitive voter information ended up in the public domain and allegedly in the hands of political actors.

Atiku called for answers to key questions, including who accessed the data, who requested it, and how it was transferred outside INEC’s custody.

He argued that the absence of an external hack does not reduce the seriousness of the incident, but rather highlights deeper institutional vulnerabilities.

Concerns Over Electoral Integrity

The former vice-president also urged INEC to go beyond press statements and publish full findings of any investigation to restore public confidence in the electoral process.

He further suggested that the matter raises broader concerns about political interference and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral systems ahead of future elections.

The controversy continues to generate debate over data protection, institutional accountability, and the security of voter information in Nigeria’s electoral framework.