The Digest:
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorised access of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database following the publication of a political candidate’s voter information. The commission said its audit trail identified the user account through which the data was accessed, and relevant personnel have been questioned. INEC confirmed no external hack occurred; instead, valid user credentials were used without authority. The Department of State Services has also begun an independent probe. The leak involved actor Emeka Ike’s voter record.
Key Points:
- A voter’s personal data being leaked undermines public trust in INEC’s database security.
- Insider misuse of access privileges raises questions about staff training and monitoring.
- Political opponents could weaponise leaked voter data in future elections.
- The DSS involvement signals possible criminal prosecution for data breach offences.
- Over 90 million registered voters may worry about their own information safety.
INEC has promised to make findings public and refer any culpable persons for legal action.
Sources: The Punch, Vanguard
