…reacting to the development, Emeka Ike described the alleged disclosure as shocking and a dangerous abuse.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times| Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike has strongly criticised Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged exposure of his personal information from the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Ike said he was prepared to take action against Olayinka, describing the incident as a serious violation of privacy.
The controversy comes after Ike lost the primary election for the House of Representatives seat representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Olayinka recently faced criticism on social media after sharing what appeared to be Ike’s voter registration information through an INEC administrative webpage.
In a post on his X account, Olayinka claimed that Emek Ike was originally registered as a voter in Imo State before transferring his registration to the Federal Capital Territory on May 15.
The post reportedly included screenshots containing details such as Ike’s application number, registration centre, Voter Identification Number (VIN), profile photograph, name, and date of application.
Reacting to the development, Emeka Ike described the alleged disclosure as shocking and a dangerous abuse of access to sensitive information.
“It’s quite shocking, extreme, and the height of political rascality for a government officer to access a citizen’s information from the INEC cyber system,” he said.
According to the actor, the incident raises concerns about data privacy and the level of access public officials may have to citizens’ personal records.
“It tells you a lot. It shows how much impunity we have flying around there and that people have access to things they shouldn’t be having access to. That is quite deplorable, and I see it as a huge insult and slap on every political party and every Nigerian,” he added.
Emeka Ike further argued that such actions send the wrong message to the public.
“He is telling every Nigerian that whoever you are, I can pull your information from anywhere and do what I want with it. That rascality needs to be stopped,” he stated.
The actor also disclosed that he was prepared to challenge Olayinka over the alleged disclosure of his personal information.
“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,” Emeka Ike said.
The incident has sparked renewed debate over data protection, privacy rights, and access to sensitive information within public institutions.
