Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike, has filed a N10 billion lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the alleged unlawful disclosure of his personal voter information.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 15, alleges that Ike’s voter registration details were unlawfully accessed and published without his consent.
According to court documents, the actor is seeking damages for what he described as a gross violation of his constitutional right to privacy and protection of personal data.
The controversy began in May after Olayinka allegedly shared screenshots on his X (formerly Twitter) account showing details of Emeka Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The post sparked public debate over Ike’s eligibility to contest for a House of Representatives seat in Abuja.
The information was reportedly obtained from a restricted INEC administrative portal, raising concerns about how sensitive voter data was accessed and circulated online.
The publication triggered widespread reactions, with critics questioning the security of INEC’s voter database and accusing the platform of unauthorised access.
In response, INEC denied claims that its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) system had been hacked, stating that the incident resulted from the misuse of valid internal credentials by authorised personnel.
The matter also prompted an investigation by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), who reportedly questioned individuals linked to the alleged data leak.
In his suit, Ike is asking the court to declare that the publication of his personal voter information was unlawful and unconstitutional.
“A DECLARATION that the Press release by INEC dated 2 June 2026, in reaction to the viral publication and circulation of the Applicant’s personal voter information and private data on the social media by the 1st Respondent (Olayinka), amounts to a tacit admission of guilt and liability to the Applicant, for failure to ensure strict protection, safety and security of the Applicant’s personal voter records and private data, statutorily under its care, custody and protection, which the 1st Respondent accessed, exploited and published on the social media in contravention of the Applicant’s fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data, respectively guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and sections 24 & 39 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023,” part of the suit reads.
“A DECLARATION that the 1st and 2nd Respondent (INEC) are jointly liable and responsible to the Applicant for breach and gross violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data, respectively guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and sections 24 & 39 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
“AN ORDER directing the 1st Respondent to immediately retract and pull down the offensive post and publication on his social media X handle, @OlayinkaLere, containing screenshots of the Applicant’s personal voter information and private data, unlawfully obtained from INEC’s restricted portal and secured database and to immediately tender an unreserved apology in writing, to the Applicant for the breach and violation of his fundamental right and publish same on the 1st Respondent’s social media X handle, @OlayinkaLere, and also published in three (3) National Daily Newspapers: (The Punch, The Nation and This day), to run consecutively for two (2) weeks, in order that the written apology shall be widely circulated and made to go viral, replicating the similar publicity and attention, the offensive post and publication by the 1st Respondent, received on his social media X handle and public space.
“N10,000,000,000.00 (TEN BILLION NAIRA) as aggravated and general damages, jointly and severally against the 1st and 2nd Respondents, in favour of the Applicant, for gross breach and violation of his fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data, respectively guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and sections 24 & 39 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.”
He is also seeking an order compelling Olayinka to delete the controversial post and publish an apology on his X account as well as in three national newspapers for two consecutive weeks.