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Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged leak of voter information from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Continuous Voter Registration database. The opposition leader said INEC’s recent explanation regarding the incident has raised more concerns than it resolved, particularly after the commission acknowledged that the information was accessed using valid official credentials rather than through an external cyberattack. 
In a statement issued through his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the controversy has shifted from fears of hacking to questions about possible internal compromise and the adequacy of INEC’s data protection measures. He questioned how information stored within a restricted electoral database could find its way into the public domain and eventually into the possession of political actors. According to him, the absence of an external breach does not reduce the seriousness of the matter; instead, it raises deeper concerns about internal controls, accountability, and potential political interference. 
The controversy emerged after voter registration details linked to actor and politician Emeka Ike were circulated online. The information was reportedly published by Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, prompting widespread criticism from political figures, civil society groups, and data-privacy advocates. INEC subsequently stated that its ICT infrastructure was not hacked and that the information was accessed through legitimate user accounts assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing voter registration exercise. 
Atiku insisted that Nigerians deserve clear answers regarding how confidential electoral records moved from INEC’s internal system into the hands of individuals outside the commission. He called for transparency in the investigation and urged INEC to strengthen safeguards around voter information ahead of the 2027 general elections. The demand comes amid growing public concern over electoral integrity, data protection, and the security of the country’s voter database as political activities intensify nationwide. 
