Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team have questioned the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, while detaining an Independent National Electoral Commission official over the alleged unauthorised release of a voter registration record.
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that the case stems from a petition alleging cyber-related offences and the unlawful disclosure of confidential voter information belonging to Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike.
According to security sources, the detained official is the Electoral Officer for the Abuja Municipal Area Council, who is being investigated for allegedly leaking sensitive voter registration data during a political dispute linked to a party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory.
Investigators said the controversy began on May 29, 2026, when a group of protesters stormed the INEC office in AMAC, accusing the commission of irregularities in an ongoing primary election.
Following the protest, the electoral officer reportedly accessed Emeka Ike’s voter registration details through the INEC portal and directed a subordinate to obtain a screenshot of information stored on the commission’s Voter Enrolment Device.
Security sources alleged that the information was later shared with Olayinka after the two established contact through Facebook Messenger before continuing their discussion on WhatsApp.
According to investigators, the electoral officer became upset by the actions of the protesters and allegedly decided to release the information after discovering that Ike had recently applied to transfer his voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.
“The officer believed INEC was being unfairly criticised by individuals involved in the protest and decided to share information relating to one of the leading figures,” a source disclosed.
Investigators also alleged that the confidential voter record was forwarded to Olayinka through WhatsApp and later surfaced online.
Another source said Olayinka, in his statement to the police, admitted posting videos of the protest on social media and confirmed that he was later contacted by the electoral officer.
According to the source, Olayinka explained that the officer complained about what he described as attempts to blackmail INEC and subsequently promised to provide evidence relating to the voter registration issue.
“He stated that the officer later sent him documents showing details of the voter registration transfer,” the source said.
The investigation reportedly uncovered deleted portions of the WhatsApp conversation between the two men, which were later recovered through forensic analysis.
While the electoral officer remains in custody, Olayinka was reportedly granted administrative bail after being questioned by investigators.
Speaking on the matter, Olayinka confirmed that he honoured the police invitation.
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“I was invited yesterday, and as a law-abiding citizen, I honoured the invitation,” he said, declining further comments.
The controversy became public on May 30 after Olayinka posted on X that Emeka Ike had only recently transferred his voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.
In the post, he questioned Ike’s eligibility to contest for a House of Representatives seat in Abuja and attached images that critics claimed were obtained from INEC’s restricted administrative database.
The publication sparked outrage online, with many accusing Olayinka of exposing confidential personal information.
In response, Ike condemned the disclosure of his voter data and indicated his intention to pursue legal action over the alleged breach.
The incident has since attracted reactions from several political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who raised concerns about the protection of personal data and the handling of sensitive electoral records.
