No evidence of external hacking or breach of wider voter records, Commission says
Abuja, 2 June 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun a thorough investigation after allegations emerged on social media and in sections of the media concerning the alleged unauthorised access to its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database and the subsequent publication of information relating to a candidate in recent political primaries in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission confirmed it takes the claims seriously and has already identified the user account through which the information was accessed via its audit trail. Relevant personnel have been questioned, and all units connected to the incident are cooperating fully.
Preliminary findings point to internal misuse rather than external breach
INEC stressed that the incident does not involve any external breach of the CVR database, hacking, or unauthorised external access to its ICT infrastructure. Instead, the information was accessed using valid user credentials assigned to personnel taking part in the ongoing nationwide CVR exercise, but was then released without authority.
The Commission made clear that the matter relates only to the retrieval of a specific voter record. It does not indicate any compromise of the broader voter registration infrastructure or the personal data of more than 90 million registered voters.
INEC said it is examining all technical, administrative and operational factors to establish individual responsibility, identify any breach of internal access-control protocols, and determine the full circumstances surrounding the use of the credentials. Appropriate action will be taken against anyone found to be involved.
DSS opens separate investigation
The Department of State Services (DSS) has, on its own initiative, commenced an independent investigation into the matter. INEC said it will continue to cooperate fully with all relevant security agencies and will refer any person found culpable for appropriate legal action.
Public urged to disregard speculation
The Commission urged members of the public and the media to disregard unfounded speculations while investigations remain ongoing. It pledged to keep the public informed of its final findings and any measures taken in due course.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that it takes the security, confidentiality and integrity of voter data with the utmost seriousness and remains committed to transparency, institutional integrity, and the protection of voters’ personal information,” the statement said.
The press release was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC).
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