The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday clarified that voter information is neither classified nor confidential.
The Commission said it is constitutionally empowered to make voter information available to the public without seeking the consent of registered voters.
The INEC stated this before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by an Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer in its Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, Anthonia Makwe, to counter a N10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Emeka Ike.
Ike, a Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant’s suit is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026.
The Commission, in its argument, stated that the information in question is published in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Ike had sued INEC and media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Lere Olayinka, where he alleged a breach of his fundamental right to privacy following the publication of his voter registration details on X. He is seeking N10 billion in damages.
In the suit filed through his lawyer, Leonard Adeh, the aspirant wants the court to declare that Olayinka’s publication of his voter database without his consent amounted to a violation of his right to privacy and personal data protection.
However, in a counter-affidavit filed by Olayinka’s counsel, Akpama Ekwe, he maintained that the information he shared was already in the public domain and was not obtained unlawfully.