The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Department of State Services are now investigating the unauthorized disclosure of voter information from INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration database, a development that has sparked fresh concerns about the credibility of the 2027 general election. INEC said its preliminary audit found no external hacking or breach of its ICT infrastructure, but confirmed that a specific voter record was accessed using valid credentials assigned to personnel involved in the ongoing CVR exercise and later released without authority.

The incident became public after Lere Olayinka, spokesman to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, reportedly published details allegedly retrieved from the CVR database. INEC stressed that only one voter record was involved and that the personal data of over 90 million registered Nigerians remains secure, but it admitted the information was released internally without approval. The commission said it is examining all technical, administrative and operational angles to identify who violated access-control protocols, and warned that anyone found culpable will face legal action. The DSS has also launched its own independent probe and INEC pledged full cooperation.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar raised the alarm on Tuesday, saying INEC’s admission has moved the matter beyond speculation and placed the credibility of the 2027 election under serious threat. Through his media aide Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the absence of external hacking does not reduce the gravity of the incident but instead exposes weaknesses in internal controls and raises questions of possible political interference. He questioned how sensitive electoral data stored in a restricted database ended up in the hands of political actors and their associates, and demanded a comprehensive, transparent investigation. Atiku linked the controversy to recent political comments on the 2027 race and said Nigerians deserve clarity on whether any actors have undue influence over institutions expected to remain impartial.

INEC has urged the public and media to avoid speculation while investigations continue, and promised to publish its final findings and any corrective measures once concluded.

Source: punch news