Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has taken legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged unauthorized release of his voter registration details. The lawsuit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Details of the Lawsuit
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, was filed on June 15, 2026. It stems from a social media post made by Olayinka in May, where screenshots showing Emeka Ike's voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory were shared on his verified X account. The actor alleges that the publication of his voter information was done without his consent and violated his constitutional right to privacy.
Allegations of Unlawful Access
Through his lawyer, Leonard Adeh, Emeka Ike argued that the information was accessed from a restricted section of INEC's voter database and released unlawfully. He contends that his rights under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and international human rights provisions were breached.
Demands for Relief
The actor is asking the court to award him N10 billion in aggravated and general damages against both INEC and Olayinka. He is also seeking an order compelling the removal of the post from X, a written apology, and a publication of the apology in national newspapers. Emeka Ike insists both respondents should be held jointly responsible for what he describes as a serious breach of trust and unlawful exposure of personal data.
INEC's Response
INEC had previously reacted to the controversy, stating that its Continuous Voter Registration system was not hacked. However, it admitted that the data exposure may have resulted from the misuse of valid internal access credentials by authorized personnel. The development has further deepened public debate around data protection, political scrutiny, and the boundaries of online disclosure of personal records.
Background on Emeka Ike
Emeka Ike has been vocal on other issues as well. He previously shared his opinion about tithes and offerings, stating that church money should not be used for personal gain but to feed the needy and the poor. He also expressed anger and disappointment after his first son, Michael, modeled for renowned Kayamata seller Jaruma, accusing her of influencing his son into creating adult-themed content.
