Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded urgent clarification from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged voter database breach

Atiku raised concerns over reports suggesting that sensitive voter information may have been exposed, warning that such incidents could weaken public trust in the electoral process.

He specifically called for urgent clarification from INEC on how the alleged breach occurred and the measures being taken to prevent a recurrence.

The former Vice President said the controversy remains particularly disturbing because the material in question was not exposed by whistleblowers, investigative journalists, or anonymous sources, but was voluntarily published by Mr. Lere Olayinka, spokesman to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“INEC has confirmed that the information was retrieved using authorized credentials. Nigerians deserve to know how material obtained from a restricted electoral platform found its way into the public domain through individuals closely associated with a serving minister. That question remains unanswered,” he said.

“What makes this episode impossible to ignore is that the information did not emerge from a whistleblower, an investigative journalist, or an anti-corruption agency. It was publicly released by Mr. Lere Olayinka, spokesman to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“INEC has now admitted that the information originated from its restricted voter registration database and was accessed using valid official credentials.

“Nigerians are therefore entitled to ask a simple question: how did information stored within a supposedly secure electoral database move from INEC’s internal system into the possession of the spokesman of a serving minister?

“That question becomes even more compelling when viewed against the backdrop of recent political events.

“Only days before this controversy erupted, Minister Wike publicly declared with remarkable certainty that Atiku Abubakar would not secure up to 10 percent of the votes in Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election. It was an astonishing claim — not because politicians are forbidden from making predictions, but because of the confidence, precision, and finality with which it was delivered.

“Ordinarily, such comments could be dismissed as political bravado. However, Nigerians are now confronted with a disturbing reality: individuals operating within the minister’s political circle have been found in possession of information sourced from INEC’s restricted database.

“The question therefore arises: what was the basis of such extraordinary confidence? Was it merely political chest-thumping, or does it reveal a mindset that believes certain political actors possess privileged access to institutions constitutionally required to remain neutral?

“Democracy cannot survive on assurances alone. Electoral integrity depends not only on the actual independence of institutions, but also on public perception of that independence. Once political actors begin to appear unusually familiar with information that should be inaccessible to them, public trust inevitably suffers.

“Minister Wike is not just another politician. He is a powerful member of the ruling establishment and one of the most vocal political actors in the country. Consequently, when sensitive electoral information surfaces through individuals directly associated with him, Nigerians have every right to demand answers.

“This issue can no longer be reduced to the unauthorized disclosure of a single voter record. It has become a test of whether Nigeria’s electoral institutions are truly insulated from political influence or whether politically connected individuals enjoy access and advantages unavailable to ordinary citizens.

“The Nigerian people deserve to know the complete chain of custody. Who accessed the information? Who requested it? Who received it? How did it leave INEC’s custody? And why did the trail lead directly to political actors associated with a serving minister who has repeatedly made unusually confident pronouncements about the outcome of a future election?

“These are not partisan questions. They are questions about the integrity of the democratic process itself. Until they are fully answered, concerns about political interference, privileged access, and the neutrality of key institutions will continue to grow.”

Atiku emphasized that the issue extends far beyond the personalities involved.

“This is not about Mr. Olayinka. It is not even about Mr. Wike. It is about the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the confidence citizens can place in them.

“Democracy depends on trust. Once citizens begin to suspect that political actors have access to the referee’s notebook, confidence in the entire process begins to erode. Electoral commissions are supposed to inspire confidence, not provoke anxiety.”

The former Vice President noted that INEC’s statement revealed it had identified the specific user account through which the information was accessed and that relevant personnel had already been questioned.

“That is welcome. But identifying a user account is only the beginning. Nigerians deserve to know the full chain of custody of this information: who accessed it, who authorized its release, how it reached political actors, and whether anyone outside the Commission benefited from or encouraged the unauthorized disclosure.”

He also welcomed the involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS), which INEC said had commenced an independent investigation.

“The Nigerian people will expect that investigation to be thorough, impartial, and fearless. No individual, regardless of political influence or proximity to power, should be beyond scrutiny.”

Atiku warned that public confidence in democratic institutions is already under severe strain and that incidents of this nature only deepen existing concerns.

“For years, Nigerians have watched institutions that ought to stand above politics become increasingly entangled in partisan controversies. This incident reinforces the growing fear that some public institutions are being viewed not as national assets, but as instruments to be manipulated for political advantage.

“The danger lies not only in actual misconduct, but also in public perception. Elections are undermined not merely by manipulation, but by the belief that manipulation is possible. Once citizens begin to suspect that electoral systems are vulnerable to partisan influence, the credibility of future elections is placed at risk.”

The former Vice President therefore called on INEC to go beyond assurances and provide Nigerians with full transparency.

“INEC must publish the complete findings of its investigation. Nigerians deserve to know precisely what happened, who was responsible, what disciplinary measures will follow, and what reforms are being implemented to prevent a recurrence.

“The credibility of the 2027 election will not be determined solely on election day. It is being shaped right now by the willingness of institutions to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and independence.

“Nigeria cannot afford a situation where confidence in electoral institutions is weakened before campaigns have even properly commenced. The Nigerian people deserve to know that their data is protected, that electoral systems remain secure, and that no politician — regardless of influence or position — enjoys privileged access to the machinery of democracy.

“If there has been no compromise, let the facts be made public. If electoral institutions are truly independent, let them demonstrate that independence. Democracy flourishes in transparency, accountability, and public trust — not in secrecy and unanswered questions.”