Veteran actor Emeka Ike recently confirmed that he has traded the Nollywood movie set for political ambition. However, instead of a smooth transition like his colleague Desmond Elliot, he is at the centre of a national privacy scandal involving one of Nigeria’s most outspoken political aides and the nation’s electoral body.
The 2027 elections in Nigeria are fast approaching, and everyone, especially the citizens, is on their toes. They have their eyes wide open, watching every movement of the politicians, including aspirants, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Emeka Ike has been a household name in Nollywood for decades, known for his charismatic roles and outspoken personality. He announced plans to contest for a House of Representatives seat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the National Democratic Coalition (NDC).
To make this move official, Ike transferred his voter registration from his home state of Imo to the FCT on May 15, 2026. Ike reportedly participated in a party primary, which he later raised issues about.
However, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Lere Olayinka, the media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, did the unbelievable. He took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared screenshots of Emeka Ike’s voter registration details. These screenshots weren’t from the public INEC voter verification portal. They appeared to come directly from INEC’s internal CVR (Continuous Voter Registration) administrative system. A restricted administrative system, which is supposed to be a password-protected system meant only for authorised INEC staff.
It is also noteworthy that Lere Olayinka unlawfully posted Dino Melaye’s Tax clearance certificate in 2025. He probably thought he could do something similar again and go scot-free.
The screenshots posted on May 30, 2026, contained:
- Ike’s application number
- Voter Identification Number (VIN)
- Registration centre
- Profile photo
- Other personal data
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Olayinka’s post looked like it was intended to mock Ike’s eligibility and political ambition. He noted that Ike had just transferred his registration and had “never voted in the FCT”. Many saw it as a political shade following Ike’s primary activities.
Nigerians saw this and accused Olayinka of unauthorised access to a sensitive database containing over 90 million voters’ records. Concerns quickly escalated to fears of broader electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC and DSS Response
INEC has launched an investigation alongside the Department of State Services (DSS).
Public figures and citizens have demanded Lere Olayinka’s arrest and full accountability. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar spoke up too, calling for answers from INEC.
Emeka Ike himself didn’t stay silent. He described the act as “political rascality” and declared he’s ready to take legal action against Olayinka.
“Wike’s aide has no right to expose my privacy,” he stated.
INEC confirmed the data was accessed using valid staff credentials but released without authorisation. The commission insists there was no external hack and that the broader voter database remains secure. An audit trail identified the staff account involved, and questioning has begun.
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