Ologun demands probe into alleged INEC backend access, questions data security

Michael Olumide

Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Comrade Ayo Ologun, has raised serious concerns over allegations of unauthorized access to the backend voter database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that any compromise of the electoral body’s sensitive systems could undermine voter confidence, threaten electoral integrity, and expose deep-rooted governance failures in Nigeria.

Speaking during an exclusive media chat on Frontline, a current affairs programme aired on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Wednesday, Ologun questioned reports suggesting that presidential aide Lere Olayinka had access to sensitive voter information contained within INEC’s restricted backend system.

According to him, the issue extends beyond concerns about technology or cybersecurity and reflects a wider national challenge where public institutions often fail to enforce accountability.

“One of our problems as a nation is that there are often no consequences for action. And 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 or a lord unto himself,” he said.

Ologun emphasized that the information at the centre of the controversy was not publicly available and could not ordinarily be obtained through open-source research or internet searches.

“This is not general information. It is not something that you can Google search. It is not something that you can access by research. It is a document that is password-protected”, he stated.

He explained further that the data allegedly originated from a restricted backend environment, making questions about how it was obtained particularly significant.

“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 added.

The governance advocate warned that any unauthorized access to the database could have serious implications for voter privacy and confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

He expressed concern that such developments could indicate vulnerabilities within critical government institutions, alleging that insider collaboration could not be ruled out.

“Our data as Nigerians is not safe,” Ologun declared, arguing that institutional sabotage often originates from individuals operating within systems entrusted with public responsibilities.

“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 said.

Ologun linked the controversy to what he described as a broader culture of impunity among political elites and public officials.

Referring to the influence surrounding the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and comments attributed to his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Ologun argued that Nigeria has developed a troubling pattern of tolerating statements and actions that would ordinarily attract sanctions in more accountable democracies.

He cited a past controversial remark allegedly made by Wike concerning journalist Seun Okinbaloye, arguing that the reaction from authorities and institutions was insufficient.

“That statement is not just unofficial; it is a statement that ordinarily, if made by a public figure, would have not only cost him his office but would have led to an investigation,” he said.

According to Ologun, selective enforcement of laws has encouraged some public figures to believe they are beyond accountability.

“This is what you get when you embolden individuals to begin to see themselves as bigger than the law,” he stated.

The civil society advocate maintained that the allegations involving INEC’s backend system must be subjected to a thorough and transparent investigation.
“If Lere Olayinka gets away with this, it shows that we have laws that are different. One for the poor and the ordinary. One for those who are in power,” he warned.

He further argued that the implications extend beyond data security, stressing that confidence in elections could be severely damaged if backend systems are vulnerable to unauthorized interference.

“If an individual, through whatever means, can have access to information at the backend, who says that same person cannot influence the collation of results?” he queried.

Reacting to INEC’s denial that its systems were hacked, Ologun acknowledged the commission’s explanation that the access originated through legitimate credentials associated with personnel involved in voter registration activities.

However, he questioned the level of transparency surrounding the matter and called for greater accountability.

“They know who logged in. They know the officials who have that access. What has become of that individual?” he asked.
While noting that personal details need not necessarily be disclosed publicly, he insisted that Nigerians deserve confirmation that disciplinary measures have been taken where wrongdoing is established.

According to him, transparency remains critical to restoring public confidence in democratic institutions.

He argued that government agencies should proactively provide information of public interest rather than hide behind bureaucratic secrecy.

“Information that ordinarily they need not ask you before they know should be proactively disclosed,” he said.

Criticising what he described as an entrenched culture of secrecy in public administration, Ologun remarked that public institutions often treat routine information as though it were highly classified.

“We live in a nation where they make information look like it is the date of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” he said.
He urged INEC to move beyond public statements and ensure that concrete actions are taken against any individual found culpable in the alleged breach.

According to him, accountability, possible arrests where necessary, and strengthened system safeguards are essential if public trust in future elections is to be preserved.

Ologun also supported calls by opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for a comprehensive investigation into the matter, arguing that political parties have legitimate reasons to be concerned about the integrity of electoral systems.

“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.

However, he cautioned that investigations should not become mere political talking points without tangible outcomes.

Beyond the INEC controversy, Ologun reflected on the broader political landscape ahead of future elections, noting what he described as the growing strength of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the continuing fragmentation of opposition forces.

He referenced developments within opposition circles, including coalition discussions involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while expressing concern about internal divisions among opposition parties.

On former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ologun warned against political manoeuvres that could diminish his influence, suggesting that he could be reduced to a “pawn” in broader elite calculations if he aligns with fragmented political interests.

He also pointed to persistent divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing them as evidence of deeper structural weaknesses affecting opposition politics.

According to him, the proliferation of presidential aspirants across different political platforms could further divide opposition votes and inadvertently strengthen the ruling party’s electoral prospects.

He cited figures such as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Omoyele Sowore and Adewole Adebayo as examples of aspirants whose participation could contribute to vote fragmentation.

Ologun argued that electoral outcomes in Nigeria are influenced not only by voter numbers but also by strategic alliances, elite negotiations, regional interests and trust deficits among political actors.

Rejecting simplistic interpretations of North-South voting patterns, he maintained that both regions remain internally divided and politically complex.

He concluded that Nigeria’s electoral future will depend largely on transparency, accountability and institutional credibility, warning that unresolved concerns over electoral systems could further erode public confidence in democracy.

“The electoral landscape remains complex, unpredictable, and heavily shaped by elite bargaining rather than unified voter blocs,” he said.