2027: INEC denies data leak, challenges N10bn suit against Wike’s aide Olayinka

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit accusing it of leaking confidential details of voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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A Nollywood actor who aspired to contest for the House of Representatives under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Emeka Ike, had filed a N10 billion suit against the electoral body and Mr Lere Olayinka, who is a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over alleged unlawful disclosure of private details.

The plaintiff, in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, alleged a breach of his fundamental right to privacy following the publication of his voter registration details on X.

While the publication was made by Olayinka, the plaintiff contended that the information was part of his confidential records that were in INEC’s possession.

The plaintiff, through his lawyer, Mr Leonard Adeh, prayed the court to declare that Olayinka’s publication of his details without his consent amounted to a violation of his right to privacy and personal data protection.

Meanwhile, INEC, in a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to the suit, while denying complicity in the alleged unlawful leak of the plaintiff’s details, clarified that information supplied to it by voters is neither classified nor confidential.

The electoral body told the court that the information the plaintiff complained of was already published in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The Commission, in the affidavit deposed to by an assistant director and data protection officer in its Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, Anthonia Makwe, insisted that it is constitutionally empowered to make voter information available to the public without first obtaining the consent of registered voters.

According to INEC, its statutory responsibilities include the compilation, maintenance, display, publication, certification, and management of the register of voters in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

It maintained that the information the plaintiff alleged was leaked was neither sensitive nor confidential.

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