Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over alleged unlawful disclosure of his personal voter data.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, June 15, 2026.
The case stems from a social media post in which Olayinka allegedly shared screenshots showing details of Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory. .... reportedly questioned the actor’s eligibility to contest for a House of Representatives seat.
The publication sparked public outrage, with concerns raised over possible unauthorised access to INEC’s restricted voter database.
While INEC later denied any external hacking, it admitted that the incident was caused by misuse of valid internal access credentials by authorised personnel.
In the suit, Ike is asking the court to declare that the publication of his voter information without consent amounts to a violation of his constitutional right to privacy and protection of personal data.
Through his counsel, Leonard Adeh, the actor argued that his rights are protected under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Sections 24 and 39 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
He is also seeking a declaration that INEC has a statutory duty of care to safeguard voters’ personal data and prevent unauthorised disclosure.
Among his prayers, Ike is asking the court to compel Olayinka to delete the post from his X account, publish an apology across national newspapers, and issue a public retraction.
He is also demanding ₦10 billion in damages against both respondents for alleged breach of privacy rights.
Part of the reliefs sought in the suit reads: A DECLARATION that the 1st and 2nd Respondent (INEC) are jointly liable and responsible to the Applicant for breach and gross violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data, respectively guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and sections 24 & 39 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
“AN ORDER directing the 1st Respondent to immediately retract and pull down the offensive post and publication on his social media X handle, @OlayinkaLere, containing screenshots of the Applicant’s personal voter information and private data, unlawfully obtained from INEC’s restricted portal and secured database and to immediately tender an u