INEC Launches Investigation Into Alleged Unauthorized Access to Voter Registration Database
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a comprehensive investigation into allegations of unauthorized access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database and the subsequent disclosure of information relating to a candidate who participated in a recent political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the Commission said it had taken the allegations seriously and immediately activated internal mechanisms to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.
INEC explained that, as part of the ongoing nationwide CVR exercise, designated Registration Officers were granted controlled access to specific sections of the voter registration system for the purpose of registering new voters, processing transfer requests, and updating voter records. The Commission stressed that such access is strictly limited to official duties and is revoked at the end of the exercise.
According to INEC, preliminary investigations and audit trails have already identified the user account through which the information was accessed. Relevant personnel have been questioned, while all departments connected to the matter are cooperating fully with investigators.
The Commission said it is examining all technical, administrative, and operational aspects of the incident to determine individual responsibility, establish the circumstances under which the credentials were used, and identify any violation of internal access-control protocols before taking appropriate disciplinary or legal action.
However, INEC clarified that its preliminary findings show there was no external breach of the CVR database, no hacking incident, and no unauthorized access to its ICT infrastructure by outsiders. Rather, the information was accessed through legitimate user credentials assigned to personnel involved in the ongoing voter registration exercise but was allegedly disclosed without authorization.
The Commission further noted that the incident concerns the retrieval of a specific voter record and does not suggest any compromise of its broader voter registration system or the personal data of more than 90 million registered voters nationwide.
Reaffirming its commitment to data protection, INEC stated that it remains dedicated to safeguarding the security, confidentiality, and integrity of voter information while upholding transparency and institutional accountability.
The Commission also disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has independently commenced its own investigation into the matter. INEC pledged full cooperation with security agencies and vowed to ensure that anyone found culpable faces appropriate legal consequences.
It urged members of the public and the media to avoid speculation while investigations are ongoing, assuring Nigerians that it will make its final findings public and announce any necessary corrective measures in due course.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC).
