INEC Defends Publication of Voter Information in Emeka Ike ₦10bn Privacy Suit
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has informed the Federal High Court, Abuja that voter registration details at the center of Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant Emeka Ike’s ₦10 billion privacy lawsuit are neither confidential nor classified.
In a counter‑affidavit deposed to by Anthonia Makwe, Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer in INEC’s Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, was filed in response to the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, the Commission argued that voter information is published pursuant to Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC maintained that it is constitutionally empowered to compile, maintain, publish, and manage the voters’ register without requiring individual consent.
The Commission denied releasing the document allegedly shared on social media, insisting it has discharged its duty to safeguard voter information under its custody.
Emeka Ike, through his counsel Leonard Adeh, contends that the publication of his voter details on X (formerly Twitter) violated his constitutional right to privacy and data protection.
He had sued INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, alleging that publishing his voter information without consent breached his rights under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He seeks ₦10 billion in damages.
Co-defendant Lere Olayinka, argued through counsel Akpama Ekwe that the information he shared was already publicly available and was not obtained through unlawful means.
He noted that the published material contained only Ike’s name and passport photograph, stressing there was no legal obligation to treat such information as confidential.
Olayinka further submitted that aspirants seeking elective office cannot claim privacy violations over information voluntarily submitted during the electoral process.
The matter has been adjourned to October 12, 2026 for hearing.
