Fresh twists have emerged in the controversy surrounding the alleged leak of sensitive voter information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as security operatives reportedly questioned Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, while an INEC official was said to have been detained over the incident.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) grilled Olayinka on Tuesday at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja over circumstances surrounding the publication of voter registration details linked to Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike.
The development follows a public outcry triggered by screenshots shared on social media allegedly showing information from a restricted INEC administrative portal. The disclosure raised concerns about the security of voter data and the possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive electoral records.
Investigators are said to be probing how the information was obtained, who had access to the portal, and whether established data protection protocols were breached.
Sources further revealed that an INEC official believed to have knowledge of the data access process was taken into custody as part of efforts to unravel the circumstances behind the leak.
Although details of the official’s alleged involvement remain unclear, investigators are reportedly examining digital records and access logs to determine the source of the information that found its way into the public domain.
The controversy erupted after Olayinka shared details relating to Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory while questioning the actor’s political eligibility.
The post immediately sparked criticism from political figures, civil society groups, and data privacy advocates, who argued that voter information should be protected from unauthorized disclosure.
The incident has also intensified calls for stronger safeguards around Nigeria’s electoral database, with concerns that any breach could undermine public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.
Neither the Police nor INEC had issued an official statement on the reported interrogation and detention as of the time of filing this report. Olayinka has also not publicly commented on the details of his interaction with investigators.
The unfolding probe is expected to place renewed scrutiny on the handling of sensitive voter information and could have far-reaching implications for data protection practices within Nigeria’s electoral system.
As investigations continue, political observers say the outcome may determine whether criminal, administrative, or disciplinary actions will follow in what is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about electoral controversies in recent months.
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