The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports alleging that its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database was hacked, insisting that there was no external breach of its information technology infrastructure.
INEC made the clarification in a statement issued recently by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
The Commission disclosed that it had initiated a comprehensive investigation into allegations of unauthorized access and disclosure of information from its CVR database following reports that details relating to a candidate in the recent primary election of a political party in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were accessed and published without authorization.
According to INEC, preliminary findings from its audit trail revealed that the information in question was accessed using valid user credentials assigned to officials participating in the ongoing CVR exercise. However, the Commission noted that the information was allegedly released without due authorization.
INEC stressed that its findings so far showed no evidence of an external cyberattack, hacking incident, or unauthorized access to its database by outsiders.
“The incident under investigation relates to the retrieval of a specific voter record and does not indicate any compromise of the Commission’s broader voter registration system or the personal data of more than 90 million registered voters,” the statement said.
The electoral body further revealed that relevant personnel have been questioned as part of the investigation, while technical, administrative, and operational factors surrounding the incident are still being examined to establish responsibility and determine appropriate sanctions.
INEC also confirmed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has commenced an independent investigation into the matter. It assured Nigerians that anyone found culpable would be held accountable and referred for prosecution in accordance with the law.
While urging members of the public and the media to disregard speculation and misinformation, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding voter information and maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
INEC pledged to keep Nigerians informed of the outcome of the investigations and any actions taken upon their conclusion.
