The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into allegations of unauthorised access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database following the publication of information relating to a candidate who participated in a recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC said it was treating the matter with utmost seriousness and had immediately commenced a detailed investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
According to the commission, authorised registration officers participating in the ongoing nationwide CVR exercise were granted controlled access to specific parts of the registration system for official duties such as voter registration, transfer requests, and updates to voter records. It explained that such access is restricted and withdrawn once the exercise is completed.
INEC disclosed that preliminary findings from its audit trail had 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. Relevant personnel have been questioned, and all units connected to the incident are cooperating fully with the investigation,” the commission stated.
The electoral body said it is examining all technical, administrative, and operational aspects of the matter to determine responsibility and establish whether any internal access-control procedures were violated.
However, INEC stressed that preliminary findings showed there was no external breach of its systems.
According to the commission, there was no hacking incident or unauthorised access from outside its ICT infrastructure. It explained that the information in question was accessed through valid credentials assigned to personnel involved in the CVR exercise but was allegedly released without authorisation.
INEC further clarified that the incident involved the retrieval of a specific voter record and did not indicate any compromise of the wider voter registration database or the personal information of more than 90 million registered voters.
“The incident under investigation relates to the retrieval of a specific voter record and does not suggest any compromise of the commission’s broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of registered voters,” the statement noted.
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The commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting voter information and safeguarding the integrity of its electoral systems.
INEC also revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had independently begun an investigation into the matter and pledged full cooperation with security agencies.
The commission warned that anyone found culpable would face appropriate legal action.
Meanwhile, the controversy follows complaints by actor and politician, Emeka Ike, who accused an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of exposing his personal voter information online.
Ike, who contested for the House of Representatives seat representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency under the Nigerian Democratic Congress, described the alleged disclosure of his personal details as shocking and unacceptable.
INEC urged the public and the media to avoid speculation while investigations continue, assuring Nigerians that the outcome of the investigation and any actions taken would be made public in due course.
