INEC Defends Voter Information Disclosure in Court

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clarified in a Federal High Court in Abuja that voter information is not classified or confidential, asserting its constitutional authority to disclose such information without consent from registered voters. This statement was made in a counter-affidavit by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer at INEC, in response to a N10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Emeka Ike, a Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, alleges a breach of Ike's right to privacy due to the publication of his voter registration details on X by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Ike seeks damages for this alleged violation, while Olayinka's counsel, Akpama Ekwe, contends that the information was already public and not unlawfully obtained.