The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been immersed in a fresh controversy after security operatives reportedly grilled Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, over the alleged leak of sensitive voter information.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) interrogated Olayinka on Tuesday at the Police Headquarters in Abuja as part of an ongoing probe into alleged cyber-related offences and unauthorised disclosure of classified electoral documents.
An unnamed INEC official has also reportedly been detained in connection with the scandal.
The investigation followed a formal complaint allegedly filed on behalf of INEC over claims of criminal conspiracy, cyber intimidation, database misuse, and the circulation of confidential national documents.
The controversy began after Olayinka shared screenshots on X showing details of Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.
He used the information to question Ike’s qualification to contest a House of Representatives seat in the FCT following the actor’s protest over the primaries conducted by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The post triggered outrage online, with many Nigerians accusing Olayinka of accessing a restricted backend platform reserved exclusively for INEC personnel.
Responding to the uproar, INEC denied reports of any external hacking or major breach of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database.
According to the commission, the disclosure resulted from the “misuse” of legitimate internal credentials by authorised officials.
Sources further revealed that the detained electoral officer allegedly contacted Olayinka directly through Facebook Messenger before sending the voter registration details via WhatsApp.
The official reportedly wanted to provide “evidence” showing that Emeka Ike had only recently initiated the voter transfer process and that the request had not yet received approval.
During questioning, Olayinka was said to have denied any prior relationship with the electoral officer.
Sources also disclosed that the FCT minister’s aide told investigators he did not know the documents were classified and was never informed that the information shared with him was confidential.
Beyond the police investigation, the Department of State Services (DSS) is also reportedly probing the circumstances surrounding the leak.
Security agencies are said to be considering possible charges against Olayinka and the INEC official, including criminal conspiracy, cyber infractions, unlawful dissemination of classified documents, and conduct capable of breaching public peace.
