INEC data leak: Actor Emeka Ike threatens action against Wike’s aide

Nigerian actor Emeka Ike is prepared to take legal action against Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Ike alleges that Olayinka exposed his personal data, which was obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

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It’s quite shocking, extreme, and it is the height of political rascality for a government officer to access a citizen’s information from the INEC cyber. It tells you a lot; it shows how much impunity we have flying around, and people have access to things they shouldn’t be having access to, and that’s quite deplorable.

Ike, who hails from Imo State and recently contested for a House of Representatives seat in the Federal Capital Territory, became the target of Olayinka's social media posts. Olayinka shared what appeared to be Ike's voter information, stating that the actor had transferred his registration from Imo State to the FCT. The shared details included Ike's application number, registration center, Voter Identification Number, profile picture, name, and application date.

Reacting to the alleged data leak, Ike expressed shock and condemned Olayinka's actions as "the height of political rascality." He argued that it is unacceptable for a government official to access a citizen's information from the INEC system, highlighting it as an example of "impunity" and a "huge insult" to Nigerians.

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I see that as a huge insult and slap on every political party and every Nigerian. He is telling every Nigerian that whoever you are, I can pull your information from anywhere and I can do what I want, and that rascality needs to be stopped.

Ike emphasized that Olayinka "has no right to exploit my privacy and insult Nigerians the way he did." He stated his readiness to confront Olayinka legally, asserting that such exploitation of private details should cease. The actor also explained his decision to contest in Abuja, stating it was a "clarion call" from constituents who needed his representation there, despite his initial intention to run in his home state.

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Actions are ready, I’m ready to take him on. He has no right to exploit my privacy and insult Nigerians the way he did. If he has been doing it in the past, this should be the last time he does it.