Veteran Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has strongly condemned the alleged use of his personal information from the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission, describing the incident as “the height of political rascality” and warning that legal action is underway.
The actor’s reaction follows a controversial social media post by Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which reportedly contained information relating to Ike’s voter registration records.
The development has triggered widespread debate over data privacy, the security of citizens’ information and the alleged use of official records for political purposes.
Speaking on the controversy, Ike questioned how personal information stored in government databases could find its way into the public domain, warning that such actions undermine public confidence in institutions entrusted with sensitive information.
“It’s the height of political rascality for a government officer to access citizens’ information from the INEC portal. It says a lot. I see it as a huge insult to every political party and every Nigerian,” the actor stated.
According to him, the incident sends a dangerous message that personal records belonging to citizens can be accessed and deployed at will by politically connected individuals.
“He is basically telling us that whoever you are, I can pull your information from anywhere. That kind of rascality needs to be stopped. I have already started taking action on it,” Ike added.
The actor maintained that beyond his personal concerns, the issue raises broader questions about the protection of citizens’ data and the safeguards in place to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive government records.
The controversy erupted after screenshots purportedly showing details from an INEC administrative platform surfaced online, sparking calls from various quarters for a thorough investigation into how the information was obtained and whether any data protection laws were violated.
Political observers and civil society advocates have since urged relevant authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and strengthen measures to safeguard personal information held by public institutions.
As reactions continue to pour in, attention is now focused on whether legal proceedings will follow and what actions regulatory authorities may take regarding the alleged disclosure of voter information.
