Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, don call for investigation into how voter registration details wey allegedly come from INEC restricted database leak.
Abati yarn during Arise Television Morning Show on Monday, as e dey react to controversy wey involve Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The wahala start after Nollywood actor Emeka Ike plan to contest House of Representatives seat for FCT, and im voter registration details show for online, wey Olayinka share.
Abati say the concerns wey people raise na correct, because the portal wey dem use no dey accessible to public.
If the information come from password-protected backend system wey INEC officials dey use, e go raise serious questions about security of electoral body database.
Abati talk say Olayinka, as far as we know, no be INEC official and must explain how e get access to the information.
If unauthorized person fit enter INEC internal database, e go be major breach of privacy and fit violate Nigeria Data Protection Act and Cybercrime Act.
Abati say: “People express concern. Their concern valid as expressed. We dey told say na restricted portal open only to INEC officials, password-protected; if you no get password, you no fit reach.
“In other words, e no be public website like IReV portal where you fit go check details about wetin INEC include.
“So if this be restricted confidential backend, then of course e mean say secret database of INEC dey open to unauthorized persons.
“Lere Olayinka, whatever, e no be INEC official, to best of our knowledge. We no think say being PA to FCT minister give am authority to egress in and out of INEC secret database.
“So for that reason, I think those wey dey call for investigation, dem very right, and we suppose know outcome of that investigation.
“If that secret database of INEC now open, e suppose open to all of us, so that some people no fit get privilege. We all suppose rig elections if dem want make e public, otherwise e go be breach of privacy of person involved.
“E go even be offence under Cyber Crime Act. We get law, Nigeria Data Protection Law. We get Cyber Crime Act. People no fit gain privileged access to wetin supposed be backend of INEC. E mean INEC backend dey open to everybody, so we call for investigation. We call for clarification.
“Lere Olayinka himself suppose explain how e come about this, and the earlier the better, so that public no run away with narrative wey dem fit easily correct because e go then further raise questions about INEC.”
Meanwhile, Emeka Ike don say im ready to take action against Lere Olayinka over the data exposure.
Ike contest for House of Representatives seat for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency for FCT under Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and lose.
Olayinka come under heavy criticism after e leak Ike voter information through INEC administrative webpage.
For im X handle on Saturday, Olayinka tweet say Ike formerly registered voter for Imo State before e transfer registration to FCT on May 15.
E attach two images wey many believe contain details from INEC administrative login portal.
Some personal information include Ike application number, registration centre, Voter Identification Number (VIN), profile picture, name and date of application.
Reacting for Channels Television Morning Brief on Tuesday, Ike describe Olayinka action as shocking and height of political rascality.
“E quite shocking, extreme and e be height of political rascality for government officer to access citizen information from INEC cyber. E tell you a lot, show how much impunity we get flying around there and people get access to things wey dem no suppose get access to and that quite deplorable and I see that as huge insult and slap on every political party and every Nigerian.
“E dey tell every Nigerian say whoever you be, I fit pull your information from anywhere and I fit do wetin I want and that rascality need to stop,” e yarn.
The actor say im ready to challenge Olayinka for exposing im private details to public.
“Actions dey ready, I dey ready to take am on. E no get right to exploit my privacy and insult Nigerians the way e do. If e don dey do am for past, this suppose be last time e do am.”
Ike explain say im decide to contest for House of Representatives seat for FCT because people call am.
“I actually want to run for my state but couple of people come to me, e be like clarion call. People come tell me, ‘sir, you need to do this now, we need you for Abuja’.
“And I dey like you know I dey already try to run for my state, but dem insist and the surge high and I consider e seeing the relevant issues dem bring on board and I say okay fine make we see how we fit build Abuja. Municipal area need to properly guard and look into, so I decide shift to Abuja,” Ike yarn.
