Quick Summary:
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirms that confidential voter information belonging to Nollywood actor and NDC House of Representatives aspirant Emeka Ike was accessed using valid staff credentials and released without authorization.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that confidential voter information relating to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike, a House of Representatives aspirant under the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), was accessed using valid staff credentials and released without authorization.
The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
Background To The Controversy
The development followed allegations of unauthorized access to INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database, involving Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The controversy erupted after voter registration details belonging to Emeka Ike surfaced online shortly after he announced plans to contest a House of Representatives seat in the FCT.
The records, reportedly shared by Olayinka, were alleged to have originated from INEC’s restricted administrative portal.
INEC: No External Breach Or Hacking Detected
INEC said it immediately launched an investigation after reports emerged on social media and in sections of the press alleging that a candidate’s information had been obtained from its database and made public.
According to the Commission, preliminary findings revealed that there was no external breach, no hacking incident, and no unauthorized access to its ICT infrastructure.
Investigation Traces Source Of Access
INEC explained that registration officers participating in the CVR exercise were granted controlled access to specific components of the system to enable them to register new voters, process transfer requests, and update voter records.
An audit trail from the preliminary investigation enabled the Commission to identify the user account through which the information was accessed.
The Commission confirmed that relevant personnel had been questioned, and that all units connected to the incident were cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
DSS Launches Independent Probe
INEC stated that it was examining the technical, administrative, and operational circumstances surrounding the incident to determine whether any internal access-control protocols were breached.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has commenced an independent investigation into the matter to establish accountability and prevent future occurrences.