By Lateef Ibrahim
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by Nollywood actor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives aspirant, Emeka Ike, arguing that the information at the centre of the dispute is neither classified nor confidential.
INEC made the submission in a counter-affidavit filed in response to Ike’s N10 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the commission and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The actor is seeking damages over the alleged violation of his right to privacy after Olayinka published what he described as his personal voter information on X without his consent.
However, INEC, through its Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer, Anthonia Makwe, maintained that the information contained in the voters’ register is published in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and does not constitute sensitive or confidential personal data.
The electoral body further argued that it is constitutionally empowered to compile, maintain and publish the register of voters for public scrutiny without obtaining the consent of individual registered voters.
INEC also distanced itself from the publication made by Olayinka, insisting that the material circulated on X did not originate from its secured database and that it had not breached its duty to safeguard voters’ information.
In a separate counter-affidavit, Olayinka argued that the information he shared was already in the public domain and consisted only of Emeka Ike’s name and passport photograph.
He contended that the applicant, having sought elective office and being a public figure, could not claim that the publication of such information amounted to a breach of privacy.
Olayinka further relied on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which require INEC to display or publish voters’ registers before general elections for public scrutiny.
The Federal High Court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 12, 2026, for hearing.
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