A lawyer and public policy analyst, Mr. Liborous Oshoma says unauthorised access to sensitive voter information raises big questions about the safety and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Oshoma who made the submission while featuring on a Television Live interactive described the INEC voter database breach as a serious national concern affecting every Nigerian, not just actor Emeka Ike.
Oshoma warned that insider breaches are even more dangerous than external hacks.
“This breach goes beyond Emeka Ike. This is a national security issue. It is not just about one individual. It affects the integrity of the entire electoral system and the confidence of every Nigerian in INEC,” he said.
He explained that once an insider can easily pass out personal data, it means anyone with connections could access voter information.
This destroys public trust in INEC and the entire electoral process.
The analyst pointed to relevant laws. Under the Cybercrimes Act, unauthorised access to data in critical sectors like INEC can attract up to 10 years in prison.
The Criminal Code also provides penalties for public officials who misuse official information.
Oshoma said INEC must go beyond internal investigations and urged the commission to hand over findings to the police, DSS, and the Attorney General’s office for proper prosecution.
This, he said, will serve as a strong deterrent to others.
He stressed that the matter touches on electoral integrity and political intimidation. Nigerians need assurance that their personal data is safe with INEC.
“If powerful people can easily get voter details, it raises fears about fairness in future elections” he said.
Oshoma called on INEC to do more to rebuild confidence and called for proper investigation, transparent handling, and punishment for those found guilty are necessary.
“Failure to handle this well could make people lose faith in the commission completely” the analyst noted
However, INEC has confirmed that the breach was not a hack from outside but an internal leak.
An official within the commission allegedly gave out Emeka Ike’s voter details.
The data later reached Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The information was shared publicly amid political tensions.
