The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has told an Abuja Federal High Court that the published data of Nollywood actor and Nigeria Democratic Congress, House of Representatives aspirant, Emeka Ike, was neither classified, sensitive nor confidential information.
INEC made the submission in a counter affidavit deposed to by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director/Data Protection Officer in its Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, in opposition to a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, filed by Emeka Ike at the Abuja Federal High Court on June 15, 2026.
The actor and politician, in the suit he filed against INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is seeking N10 billion for alleged violation of his fundamental right to privacy.
Ike, through his counsel, Leonard Adeh, asked the court to declare that Olayinka’s decision to publish his data on X without his approval amounts to gross breach and violation of his fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data.
In the counter affidavit deposed to by Makwe, INEC, which is the second respondent in the suit, informed the court that such information are displayed and published in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026. It added that it has the “statutorily and constitutional function/power to make available information of its voters to the general public without the consent of any registered voter”.
Parts of the counter affidavit read, “In response to paragraph 5 of the Applicant’s Originating Motion, the 2nd Respondent’s statutory responsibility includes the compilation, maintenance,
