INEC probes alleged unauthorised access to voter registration database, Wike’s assistant

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced an investigation into allegations of unauthorised access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database and the disclosure of information relating to a candidate in a recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

The commission said the allegations, which have circulated on social media and in sections of the media, were being taken seriously and that a thorough investigation had already begun.

According to INEC, authorised registration officers participating in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise were granted controlled access to specific components of the CVR system strictly for official duties such as registering new voters, processing transfer requests and updating voter records.

The commission explained that preliminary findings from its audit trail had enabled investigators to identify the user account through which the information was accessed.

INEC said relevant personnel had been questioned and all units connected to the incident were cooperating fully with the investigation.

“The Commission is examining all technical, administrative and operational factors associated with the matter in order to establish individual responsibility and determine the circumstances surrounding the use of those credentials,” the statement said.

The electoral body, however, stressed that there was no evidence of an external breach of its database.

“Preliminary findings 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 said.

It explained that the information was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel involved in the ongoing voter registration exercise but was subsequently released without authorisation.

INEC further clarified that the incident involved the retrieval of a specific voter record and did not compromise the wider voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of more than 90 million registered voters.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the security, confidentiality and integrity of voter data, describing the protection of personal information as a top priority.

INEC also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had independently commenced an investigation into the matter.

The commission pledged full cooperation with security agencies and warned that any individual found culpable would face appropriate legal action.

It urged members of the public and the media to disregard speculation while investigations remain ongoing, assuring Nigerians that its findings and any actions taken would be made public in due course.

Newpost Africa reports that public outrage erupted after Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, allegedly disclosed sensitive voter registration information belonging to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike during the recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The incident sparked widespread concerns over data privacy, the security of voter information and the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disclosure.