Detectives from the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team have questioned the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, and detained an INEC electoral officer over the alleged unauthorised release of voter registration records belonging to actor Emeka Ike.
According to security sources, the investigation followed a petition alleging cyber-related offences, criminal conspiracy and the unlawful disclosure of confidential voter information. The detained official, attached to the Abuja Municipal Area Council office of INEC, is accused of accessing and sharing voter registration details during a political controversy linked to a party primary election.
Sources alleged that after a protest at the AMAC INEC office on May 29, the electoral officer accessed Emeka Ike’s voter registration information and directed a subordinate to obtain a screenshot from the voter enrolment system. The document was allegedly shared with Olayinka after the two communicated through Facebook Messenger and later WhatsApp.
While Olayinka reportedly admitted receiving the document, he said the electoral officer had contacted him to complain that INEC was being unfairly criticised by protesters. He was later granted administrative bail after questioning, while the electoral officer remains in custody.
The controversy erupted after Olayinka posted details of Ike’s voter registration transfer on social media, prompting accusations of data privacy violations. Ike has since threatened legal action, while the incident has attracted reactions from prominent political figures and raised concerns over the protection of personal information within public institutions.
