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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the High Court in Abuja that the voter information in Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant Emeka Ike’s ₦10 billion lawsuit is public information and not confidential.
INEC made the argument in a counter-affidavit filed before the High Court in Abuja in response to Ike’s fundamental rights suit.
The commission said voter information is published in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and that it has the constitutional authority to make such information available to the public without seeking the consent of registered voters.
The counter-affidavit was deposed to by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director and Data Protection Officer in INEC’s Legal Drafting and Clearance Department.
Recall that in June, Ike sued INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the publication of his voter registration details on X.
He is seeking ₦10 billion in damages for an alleged breach of his right to privacy.
Through his lawyer, Leonard Adeh, Ike asked the court to declare that Olayinka’s publication of his voter information without his consent violated his rights to privacy and personal data protection.
However, Olayinka, through his lawyer Akpama Ekwe, argued that the information was already in the public domain and was not obtained unlawfully.
He said the publication contained only Ike’s name and passport photograph and insisted he owed the actor no duty of confidentiality.
Olayinka also argued that a person seeking elective office cannot claim privacy over information voluntarily submitted during the electoral process and already made public as a politician and public figure.
He relied on Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires INEC to display and publish the voters’ register before general elections for public scrutiny.
INEC also told the court that its responsibilities include compiling, maintaining, displaying, publishing and managing the voters’ register in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The commission maintained that the information in question was not sensitive or confidential and added that the document allegedly shared by Olayinka did not originate from INEC.
It also denied violating its duty to protect voters’ personal information, insisting that it has maintained the security of data in its custody.
When the case came up on Tuesday, the trial judge adjourned the matter until October 12, 2026, for hearing
