The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorised access and disclosure of information from its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database following the publication of details relating to a candidate in a recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Haruna, said the Commission was treating the matter with utmost seriousness and had commenced a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
INEC explained that authorised registration officers participating in the ongoing nationwide CVR exercise were granted controlled access to specific sections of the voter registration system to process new registrations, transfers and updates of voter records. The Commission noted that such access is strictly limited to official duties and withdrawn after the exercise.
According to Haruna, preliminary findings from the Commission’s audit trail have enabled investigators to identify the user account through which the information was accessed.
“The audit trail from the preliminary investigation has enabled the Commission to identify the user account through which the information was accessed. Accordingly, relevant personnel have been questioned, and all units connected with the incident are cooperating fully with the investigation,” he stated.
The Commission added that it is reviewing all technical, administrative and operational aspects of the incident to determine responsibility and ascertain whether any internal access-control protocols were breached.
INEC, however, clarified that there was no evidence of an external cyberattack or hacking of its systems.
According to the Commission, preliminary findings indicate that the information was accessed using valid credentials assigned to personnel involved in the CVR exercise but was subsequently released without authorisation.
“The information in question was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise but released without authority,” the statement noted.
The electoral body further assured Nigerians that the incident involved only the retrieval of a specific voter record and did not compromise its broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal information of more than 90 million registered voters nationwide.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding voter data, maintaining transparency and protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
The Commission also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has commenced a separate investigation into the matter and pledged full cooperation with security agencies.
INEC stated that any individual found culpable would face appropriate legal action.
The controversy follows allegations by Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike that his personal information was exposed from the INEC portal. Ike has threatened legal action against Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged disclosure.
Ike contested the House of Representatives seat for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
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