By: Sunday Ameh
The Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayo Ologun, has raised concerns over the alleged access to the backend voter database of the Independent National Electoral Commission, warning that the development could undermine electoral integrity and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Ologun spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
He questioned reports suggesting that a non-INEC official allegedly gained access to sensitive voter information stored within the commission’s password-protected database, describing the situation as a serious national concern.
According to him, the issue extends beyond a possible technical breach and reflects a broader problem of weak accountability within public institutions.
“One of our problems as a nation is that there are often no consequences for action. When there is no precedence of ensuring that there are consequences for actions taken or inactions, what you create is a society where everybody becomes law unto himself,” he said.
Ologun noted that the information allegedly accessed was not publicly available and could only be obtained through authorised channels.
“This is not general information. It is not something that you can Google search. It is a document that is passworded. It is a document from the backend, which means if you do not have access officially to such, you cannot have what is obtainable at that backend server,” he said.
He warned that if the allegations are confirmed, they could raise serious concerns about voter data protection and the security of Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure.
“Our data as Nigerians are not safe,” he added.
The governance advocate further alleged that internal sabotage may be contributing to vulnerabilities within government institutions.
“Within every system, including the military as we have seen over the years, and now INEC, there are saboteurs, people who are within the system looking for powers outside of the system,” he stated.
Ologun also criticised what he described as a culture of impunity among some public officials, arguing that influential individuals often act without fear of consequences.
He maintained that the alleged INEC database access should be subjected to a thorough investigation.
“If Lere Olayinka gets away with this, it shows that we have laws that are different — one for the poor and ordinary citizens and another for those who are in power,” he said.
The activist further expressed concern about the possible electoral implications of any unauthorised access to INEC’s systems.
“If an individual, through whatever means, can have access to information at the back end, who says that same person cannot influence the collation of results?” he asked.
Reacting to INEC’s position that there was no hacking of its system, Ologun said the commission should go beyond public denials and provide clarity on who accessed the database and what disciplinary actions had been taken.
“They know who logged in. They know the officials that have that access. What has become of that individual?” he queried.
According to him, transparency is critical to rebuilding public confidence in electoral institutions.
He also criticised what he described as excessive secrecy within public institutions.
“We live in a nation where they make information look like it is the date of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Ologun urged INEC to ensure that any confirmed breach is met with appropriate sanctions and reforms.
He warned that failure to hold those responsible accountable could further erode trust in the electoral process ahead of future elections.
The governance advocate also backed calls for a full investigation into the matter, arguing that political parties and stakeholders have legitimate reasons to be concerned about the security of electoral data.
“If this can happen with the information of voters, then as a political party, they are right to not be comfortable with what could happen with the record of our votes,” he said.
Ologun further commented on the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that divisions within opposition parties could strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He argued that opposition figures must prioritise strategic coordination to avoid splitting votes and weakening their electoral chances.
According to him, Nigeria’s electoral environment remains complex and heavily influenced by political negotiations, regional interests and coalition-building efforts.
He stressed that strengthening institutional accountability and protecting the integrity of electoral systems would be crucial to sustaining public trust in democracy.
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