Leaks Sensitive Voter Data: Netizens Demand DSS Investigation as Wike’s Aide Lere Olayinka Breaches INEC Portal
Nigerians have called for an investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS) following allegations that Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accessed and shared sensitive voter registration information reportedly obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
The controversy emerged after Olayinka shared details linked to Nollywood actor Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a move tied to the actor’s reported political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The post, which was initially seen by some users as political commentary and a response to Emeka Ike’s public political interest, quickly generated backlash once the nature of the information shared came under scrutiny.
While attempting to ‘mock’ Emeka Ike, Nyesom Wike’s media Aide, Lere Olayinka has raised suspicions after sharing confidential voter’s information accessible only to INEC ICT officials and data managers.
Nigerians on social media alleged that the details contained in the post were not publicly accessible and appeared to originate from restricted INEC administrative systems.
Posts online appear to show voter registration records, timestamps, and application details that users claim are only accessible to authorized INEC ICT officials and data managers.
This has fueled concerns over possible unauthorized access to the electoral commission’s internal database or digital infrastructure.
As the controversy spread, many users demanded that security agencies, particularly the DSS, launch an investigation into how such sensitive voter data was obtained and circulated publicly.
Some commentators also referenced provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, arguing that the alleged exposure raises serious concerns about voter privacy and data protection compliance.
However, neither Lere Olayinka nor the Independent National Electoral Commission has issued an official response to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has further intensified public debate over the security and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral systems, especially with growing attention toward preparations for the 2027 general elections.
