The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a ₦10 billion lawsuit accusing it of leaking the personal voter information of a House of Representatives aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit was filed by Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike, against INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Ike alleged that his fundamental right to privacy was violated after Olayinka published his voter registration details on X (formerly Twitter) without his consent.
Through his lawyer, Leonard Adeh, the plaintiff argued that the information formed part of INEC’s confidential records and sought a declaration that its publication breached his right to privacy and personal data protection.
However, INEC denied any involvement in the alleged leak.
In a counter-affidavit filed before the court, the electoral commission maintained that the information in question was neither confidential nor classified, adding that it had already been published in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
The commission explained that it is legally empowered to compile, publish and display the register of voters without seeking the consent of registered voters, as required by the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
INEC also insisted that it did not provide the plaintiff’s information to Olayinka and urged the court to dismiss the allegations against it.
Olayinka also asked the court to throw out the suit, arguing that the information he shared was already in the public domain and was lawfully accessible.
According to him, the publication only contained Emeka Ike’s name and passport photograph, stressing that he owed the plaintiff no duty of confidentiality.
He further argued that as a politician seeking elective office, Ike could not claim to have suffered trauma from the publication of information he voluntarily submitted during the voter registration process.
Olayinka also cited Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires INEC to publish and display the voters’ register before general elections for public scrutiny.
Justice Salim Ibrahim has adjourned the matter until October 12 for hearing.
