The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to allegations circulating on social media regarding unauthorized access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database and the alleged release of information on a political party candidate in the Federal Capital Territory primaries.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said it has launched a full investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the access and possible breach of internal protocols.
INEC explained that its registration officers were granted controlled access to parts of the CVR system strictly for official duties such as voter registration, transfers, and updates, and that such access is withdrawn after the exercise.
According to preliminary audit findings, the Commission identified the user account linked to the access, and relevant personnel have been questioned while all connected units are cooperating with investigators.
The Commission, however, stressed that there was no external breach or hacking of its ICT infrastructure.
It stated that the data was accessed using valid staff credentials but allegedly released without authorization.
INEC clarified that the incident involved a single voter record and does not compromise the broader voter database, which contains information on over 90 million registered voters.
It reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding voter data and maintaining institutional integrity, while confirming that the Department of State Services (DSS) has also opened an independent investigation into the matter.
INEC urged the public and media to avoid speculation as investigations continue, adding that it will release further updates and any disciplinary or legal actions when concluded.