DSS, INEC Probe Alleged Voter Data Leak as Atiku Demands Accountability

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged leak of information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) database, saying the electoral body’s explanation has raised fresh concerns.

INEC had earlier disclosed that it was investigating allegations of unauthorised access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database following the release of information relating to a candidate who participated in a recent political party primary in the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission said preliminary findings showed there was no external breach of its database or information technology infrastructure.

According to INEC, the information was accessed through valid credentials assigned to officials participating in the ongoing voter registration exercise and was released without proper authorisation.

The commission added that its audit trail had identified the user account involved and that relevant personnel were being questioned as part of ongoing investigations. It also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had launched a separate probe into the matter.

Reacting to the development, Atiku said the revelation shifts attention from concerns about external hacking to possible internal compromise and political interference.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president questioned how information stored in a restricted electoral database found its way into the public domain.

According to him, the absence of an external cyberattack does not reduce the seriousness of the incident but instead raises questions about INEC’s internal safeguards and data protection mechanisms.

Atiku also pointed to the role of Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who publicly shared information that sparked the controversy.

He argued that the issue had become more significant following recent comments by Wike regarding the 2027 presidential election, suggesting that certain political actors may have access to information not available to ordinary citizens.

The former vice president maintained that the matter goes beyond the disclosure of a single voter record and has become a test of public confidence in the neutrality and independence of Nigeria’s electoral institutions.

He called on INEC to publicly disclose the full chain of custody of the leaked information, including those who accessed, authorised, received and distributed the data.

While welcoming the DSS investigation, Atiku insisted that Nigerians would expect a thorough, transparent and impartial probe capable of uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The controversy followed public outrage after Nollywood actor Emeka Ike accused Lere Olayinka of violating his privacy by publishing what appeared to be his voter registration details obtained from an INEC administrative portal.

Ike, who contested for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency seat in the FCT under the Nigerian Democratic Congress, described the disclosure as a breach of privacy and threatened legal action against Olayinka.

INEC has assured Nigerians that the incident did not compromise its broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of more than 90 million registered voters, adding that the outcome of its investigation will be made public.