Lere Olayinka, the media aide to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has ignited a major controversy after sharing screenshots from what appeared to be a restricted INEC administrative database, raising serious questions about voter data security ahead of the 2027 general elections .

Ejes Gist News reports that the incident began when Olayinka posted details on social media showing the voter registration transfer of Nollywood actor-turned-politician Emeka Ike from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory . The screenshots appeared to originate from INEC’s internal CVR administrative portal (cvradmin.inecnigeria.org), a password-protected backend system accessible only to authorised INEC officials, not the public .

The development sparked immediate backlash from opposition supporters, data privacy advocates, and electoral observers, with many Nigerians questioning how a political aide gained access to restricted voter information .

INEC’s Response: Internal Breach, Not Hacking

Contrary to initial fears of a cyberattack, the Independent National Electoral Commission moved quickly to calm public anxiety. In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC confirmed that its preliminary investigation found no external breach or hacking of its Continuous Voter Registration database, which contains data on over 90 million registered voters .

Instead, INEC traced the leak to an internal source. “Preliminary findings from the Commission’s audit trail so far indicate that there was no external breach of the CVR database, no hacking incident, and no unauthorised external access to the Commission’s ICT infrastructure,” INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna stated .

The commission explained that the information was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise but was released without authorisation .

How the Leak Happened – INEC Explains

Speaking in a telephone interview, INEC spokesperson Mohammed Haruna provided a detailed account of how the leak occurred. He said an investigation by the commission and the police revealed that the screenshots were shared with Olayinka by an electoral officer in the Abuja Municipal Area Council .

According to Haruna, the electoral officer accessed Emeka Ike’s details on the voter register and shared them with the AMAC electoral officer. The official reportedly used her daughter’s phone to take the screenshot .

Haruna described the electoral officer’s action as “overzealousness”, noting that investigations showed the official had not met with Olayinka in person before. “The EO was taken by the police to the police SARS office for interrogation. He’s still with them,” Haruna said .

Arrests and Investigations

The Nigeria Police Force has since arrested the INEC electoral officer involved in the leak and interrogated Lere Olayinka . Police sources confirmed that operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team are probing allegations of database misuse, cyber-related offences, and the unauthorised disclosure of classified national documents .

Investigations reportedly revealed that the detained electoral officer initiated contact with Olayinka through Facebook Messenger before forwarding voter registration documents to him via WhatsApp .

During his interrogation, Olayinka reportedly told investigators that he had no prior relationship with the INEC official and was unaware that the documents shared with him were classified, maintaining that the electoral officer did not indicate the information was confidential .

The Department of State Services has also launched a parallel independent investigation into the incident, according to INEC sources .

Reactions: Abati, Igbo Community Demand Answers

The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from prominent figures and groups. Former presidential aide Reuben Abati, speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, challenged Olayinka to explain how he gained access to INEC’s restricted database .

“People have expressed concern. Their concerns are valid. We’re told that it is a restricted portal open only to INEC officials, password-protected. If you don’t have the password, you cannot get there,” Abati said .

He argued that the incident raises potential violations of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act and Cybercrime Act, calling for a thorough investigation .

Similarly, the Igbo Community Association in the Federal Capital Territory raised alarm over what it described as a “clear and dangerous security breach” that compromises the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure . The group demanded immediate transparent explanations from INEC and the Tinubu administration .

Emeka Ike, the actor whose voter details were exposed, has also threatened legal action against Olayinka, describing the act as “political rascality” .

As investigations by INEC, the police, and the DSS continue, the incident has reignited conversations about cybersecurity, voter privacy, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. While INEC maintains that the broader voter database remains secure, the unauthorised disclosure of a single voter’s record through an insider has raised troubling questions about internal access controls and data protection protocols ahead of the 2027 general elections .

Police authorities are reportedly considering possible charges against both the INEC official and Olayinka, including criminal conspiracy, cyber-related offences, unlawful disclosure of classified information, and actions capable of causing a breach of public peace .