Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has filed a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 15.
It centres on the alleged unauthorised release of Ike’s voter registration information from INEC’s restricted portal.
The controversy began after Ike announced his intention to contest for a House of Representatives seat in the FCT. He had transferred his voter registration from Imo State to Abuja.
Olayinka shared screenshots on social media questioning Ike’s eligibility. The images reportedly contained sensitive details such as his Voter Identification Number (VIN), application number, registration centre, and profile picture.
These details appeared to originate from INEC’s administrative backend, accessible only to authorised officials.
Ike described the incident as a violation of his privacy. He stated he felt unsafe for the first time in his life.
“My lawyers have already written to Lere and INEC,” Ike said in a television interview. He also notified his party, the DSS, and the police.
The actor is demanding the deletion of the post, public apologies from the defendants, and ₦10 billion in damages for breach of his constitutional right to privacy and protections under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
INEC launched an investigation into the alleged data breach. Preliminary findings indicated no external hacking but suggested misuse of internal credentials by staff.
The commission has faced public scrutiny over the security of voter data, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
Social media reactions highlighted broader concerns about electoral integrity. Many called for investigations by security agencies into how non-INEC personnel accessed the database.
Legal experts note the case could test data protection laws in Nigeria. Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees privacy of citizens’ personal information.
Ike’s legal team has emphasised the need to safeguard public confidence in the electoral system.
Neither INEC nor Olayinka’s office has issued a detailed response to the lawsuit as of the latest reports.
The development has intensified discussions on the handling of sensitive voter records. It underscores potential vulnerabilities in INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration database.
Observers say the outcome may influence future cases involving personal data in political contexts.
As the matter proceeds in court, it continues to draw attention to the intersection of politics, privacy rights, and institutional accountability in Nigeria.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!