Emeka Ike Drags INEC and Wike Aide to Court Over Alleged Voter Data Leak, Demands ₦10 Billion Damages

(Emeka Ike. Photo Credit: Channels TV)

Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike has filed a ₦10 billion lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged unauthorised release of his voter registration information.

The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, follows the circulation of screenshots allegedly showing details of Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.

The information was reportedly shared online by Olayinka while questioning Ike’s eligibility to contest for a House of Representatives seat in Abuja.

According to court documents, the actor is seeking ₦10 billion in damages, describing the disclosure as a gross violation of his constitutional right to privacy and protections guaranteed under Nigeria’s Data Protection Act.

The controversy has stirred broader concerns over the security of voter information held within INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration database.

INEC had earlier confirmed launching an internal investigation following public outrage over the leaked records, stating that preliminary findings showed no external breach of its system, but that the information had instead been accessed using valid internal credentials assigned to officials involved in the ongoing registration exercise.

Speaking on the matter previously, Ike described the disclosure as shocking, saying he felt unsafe after seeing his personal records circulating publicly.

He is also demanding that Olayinka delete the post in question, issue a public apology, and face appropriate legal consequences over the alleged privacy breach.

The case is expected to deepen ongoing national conversations around data protection, electoral integrity, and the safeguarding of sensitive voter information ahead of the 2027 general elections.