The Nigeria Police Force has detained a senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and questioned Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, over an alleged voter data leak involving restricted electoral records and the private information of Nollywood actor Emeka Ike.
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An INEC staff member was detained over alleged insider access and unauthorised extraction of voter database information.
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Lere Olayinka was interrogated after sharing screenshots said to contain restricted voter registration details on social media.
The investigation, led by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team, focuses on allegations of cyber-related offences, misuse of official credentials, and unlawful disclosure of protected voter data.
Police sources said the case began after Olayinka posted screenshots on X (formerly Twitter) showing sensitive voter registration details belonging to Emeka Ike, including his voter identification number, application records, and profile data.
The publication immediately triggered concerns over a possible voter data leak, raising questions about how the restricted information was obtained.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied any external breach of its database. In a statement, National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, said the system was not hacked, insisting the incident resulted from an internal compromise involving authorised user credentials used during voter registration operations.
Investigators reportedly traced the access trail to an INEC staff member who allegedly retrieved the data and passed it on through private communication channels. This has deepened the investigation into the voter data leak, with digital forensic teams reviewing audit logs and communication records.
Also Read: Nigerians React as INEC Admits Staff Leaked Confidential Voter Data Linked to Emeka Ike
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the probe followed a petition filed by INEC alleging criminal conspiracy, unauthorised access to classified records, and cyber-related misconduct. The State Security Service (SSS) has also opened a parallel investigation into potential national security implications.
Meanwhile, actor Emeka Ike has threatened legal action, citing violations of his privacy and the unlawful exposure of his personal electoral information.
Authorities say suspects in the case may face charges under the Cybercrimes Act and Nigeria Data Protection laws as investigations into the voter data leak continue.
