‘What It Means Is That We Are All Naked’: Oshoma Warns INEC Data Breach Threatens Electoral Integrity
Legal Practitioner and Public Affairs Analyst, Liborous Oshoma, has raised alarm over the alleged compromise of sensitive data held by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the development poses serious risks to citizens privacy and could undermine confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Oshoma said the alleged breach goes beyond concerns about unauthorised access to personal records and raises wider questions about the integrity of institutions entrusted with safeguarding sensitive national information.
“What it means is like we are all naked. Our information is out there. Only God knows how many people have accessed those information.”
He argued that the alleged incident should not be treated as an isolated matter involving a single individual but as a national issue. “Emeka Ike, I don’t know if he’s made an official complaint or written a petition to INEC, but whether Emeka Ike says, I am no longer interested or not, this is a matter of national importance. So it is beyond Emeka Ike, “Even if he says, my apology will suffice. But this is beyond him. This is a public matter. This is a public interest matter.”
Oshoma expressed concern that the situation could erode public trust in the electoral body and create doubts about its ability to protect information under its custody. “So any voter, for example, can take up the matter and say, what has happened what’s the likelihood that it will not happen to any other person? How are we sure that our data is protected by INEC?”
He maintained that the controversy surrounding the alleged data compromise was even more troubling than a conventional cyberattack. “To answer your question directly, INEC is not responding in the right manner. And it’s even though they said this is not a hack, this is worse than a hack. Because now what this means is that you don’t even need to hack the server. You don’t need to hack their backend. Just go through an insider. Just go through an insider and all the information in the backend would be handed over to you, which is worse than hacking, you know, the backend.”
According to him, the electoral body must demonstrate that no individual enjoys protection from investigation or prosecution if found culpable. “So with those kind of attitude, I would want INEC to prove to Nigerians that, look, nobody is above the law, no matter how high up there you are. We saw in some cases where persons, to maintain their credibility and reputation, some persons might be able to sacrifice. But in this case, we’re not talking about sacrificing people. We’re saying let the law take its course.”
Oshoma called for a thorough investigation into the matter and urged authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible faces the full weight of the law. “And so INEC need to do more to also win back the confidence of voters. To say truly, this information is not as bad, even though it is bad, as you perceive it. But we’ll ensure that whoever has done this is brought to book. We’ll prosecute them publicly. It’s like a coup.”
“If people are found culpable, those persons need to be prosecuted, to send a signal, to act as a deterrent to others who would want to access such data.”
He also warned that the alleged breach could expose INEC to legal challenges from citizens who believe their personal information has been compromised. “Anybody can sue INEC to say, you have compromised my information, Because now, you have wilfully given out national secrets to individuals.”
The lawyer said concerns about the safety of voter information now extend beyond privacy issues and touch on the credibility of future elections. “What is the guarantee that election would be transparent? What it means is that if this is not properly handled, what it means is that anybody who is loyal to the ruling party can just go to INEC tomorrow and assess information. Was it guaranteed that election would be transparent? That’s a big question now. INEC needs to work twice as hard as they are doing already.”
He argued that the controversy highlights deeper institutional weaknesses and reflects a broader tendency to place excessive reliance on individuals rather than strong institutions.
“With what we have seen in Nigeria, how we are raising superhumans instead of super institutions.”
Oshoma further warned that if allegations of unauthorised access to electoral records are proven, the implications could extend beyond electoral administration and into the realm of national security.
“You have wilfully given out national secrets to individuals.”
He insisted that authorities must treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, stressing that public confidence in democratic institutions depends on accountability and transparency.
“INEC needs to work twice as hard as they are doing already.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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