Actor Emeka Ike has announced plans to take legal action against Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following the alleged disclosure of his personal data sourced from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
Ike, who hails from Imo State, contested for the House of Representatives seat representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the FCT under the Nigerian Democratic Congress but was unsuccessful in his bid.
Controversy erupted after Olayinka recently shared what appeared to be Ike’s voter registration details online, including screenshots believed to be from an INEC administrative webpage.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Olayinka claimed that Ike was initially registered as a voter in Imo State before transferring his registration to the FCT on May 15, 2026—just 15 days prior. Olayinka wrote: “Emeka Ike was a registered voter in Imo State. He only transferred his INEC Registration to the FCT on May 15, 2026 (15 days ago). And he wants to contest for the House of Reps in Abuja! Someone who has never voted in the FCT o. What happened to his Imo State? This Obidient people enh!!!”
Olayinka’s post included two images, which many users alleged contained sensitive information accessed through INEC’s administrative portal. The screenshots reportedly displayed Ike’s application number, registration centre, Voter Identification Number (VIN), profile picture, name, and date of application.
Olayinka’s actions are nothing short of shocking and represent the height of political recklessness.
It is deeply disturbing and utterly unacceptable for a government official to access a citizen’s private information from the INEC database. This act exposes the alarming level of impunity in our system, where individuals in power have unrestricted access to sensitive data they should never possess. Such behavior is not only deplorable but constitutes a direct insult to every political party and to every Nigerian citizen.
Olayinka’s message to Nigerians seems clear: no matter who you are, he believes he can retrieve your information at will and misuse it as he pleases. This level of brazen misconduct must not be tolerated.
I am prepared to challenge Olayinka over this alleged violation of my privacy. He has no right to exploit my personal information or to disregard the rights of Nigerians in this manner. If he has engaged in such acts previously, this must be the last time.
On another note, speaking during a breakfast programme, Ike elaborated on his decision to contest for the House of Representatives seat in the FCT.
I initially intended to run in my home state, but a number of people approached me, urging, ‘Sir, we need you in Abuja; you must do this now.’ Although I was already considering a run at home, their insistence and passion made me reconsider. After reflecting on the important issues they raised about Abuja’s development and governance, I agreed. The municipal area deserves careful stewardship, so I decided to shift my focus to Abuja,” Ike explained.
