The Independent National Electoral Commission has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the voter information at the centre of a N10bn lawsuit filed by Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant, Emeka Ike, is public information and not protected as confidential.
The electoral body argued that the information in question is published in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and that it has the legal authority to make voter records available to the public without obtaining the consent of registered voters.
INEC made the submission in a counter affidavit sworn to by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer in the commission’s Legal Drafting and Clearance Department. The affidavit was filed in response to Ike’s suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026.
The actor had dragged INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, before the court, claiming that the publication of his voter registration details on X violated his right to privacy. He is seeking N10bn in damages.
Through his lawyer, Leonard Adeh, Ike asked the court to declare that Olayinka’s release of his voter database without his consent amounted to a breach of his constitutional right to privacy and personal data protection.
In his defence, Olayinka, through his lawyer, Akpama Ekwe, argued that the information he shared was already publicly available and was not obtained through illegal means.
He maintained that the publication contained only Ike’s name and passport photograph, insisting that he was under no legal obligation to keep such information confidential.
According to Olayinka, anyone contesting for public office cannot claim emotional distress over the circulation of information voluntarily submitted during voter registration and already placed in the public domain as a political figure.
He also relied on Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates INEC to display and publish the voters’ register before general elections for public inspection.
INEC further told the court that its responsibilities include compiling, maintaining, publishing, certifying and managing the national register of voters in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The commission maintained that the information at the centre of the suit was neither sensitive nor confidential, adding that the document allegedly posted by Olayinka did not originate from the commission.
It also denied failing in its responsibility to safeguard voters’ personal information, insisting that all data under its custody remains secure.
When the case came up on Tuesday, the trial judge adjourned proceedings until October 12, 2026, for hearing.
