The Nigeria Police Force has launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorised access and leakage of classified voter information belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission database.

The investigation has already led to the arrest of an unnamed INEC official, while Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, was reportedly interrogated by police investigators in Abuja.

According to security sources, operatives attached to the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team are probing allegations involving cyber-related offences, misuse of official database access and unlawful disclosure of sensitive electoral records.

The controversy reportedly began after Olayinka shared screenshots on social media allegedly containing voter registration transfer details linked to Emeka Ike.

The documents purportedly showed that the Nollywood actor had initiated a transfer of his voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory.

The development generated public concern, with many Nigerians questioning how the information was obtained, considering that voter registration details are considered restricted and accessible only through authorised INEC channels.

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Reacting to the controversy, INEC denied claims that its Continuous Voter Registration database was hacked or compromised.

According to the commission, preliminary findings indicated that the incident resulted from the misuse of legitimate internal access credentials by an authorised official rather than an external cyberattack.

Investigators reportedly discovered that the detained electoral officer initially contacted Olayinka through Facebook Messenger before forwarding voter registration documents to him via WhatsApp.

Sources familiar with the probe said the documents were allegedly intended to show that Emeka Ike’s voter transfer request was still under processing and had not yet been fully approved.

During questioning by investigators, Olayinka reportedly denied having any prior relationship with the INEC official involved in the matter.

He also reportedly claimed he was unaware that the documents sent to him were classified or restricted.

According to sources, Olayinka maintained that the electoral officer never informed him that the materials were confidential.

The Department of State Services has also reportedly opened a separate investigation into the alleged data leak and the circumstances surrounding the disclosure of the voter information.

Security agencies are said to be considering possible charges against both the INEC official and Olayinka.

The potential charges reportedly include criminal conspiracy, cyber-related offences, unlawful disclosure of classified information and acts capable of causing public unrest.

The incident has further raised concerns about data security, internal access controls and the protection of sensitive electoral records ahead of future elections in Nigeria.

As of the time of filing this report, police authorities had not officially disclosed the identity of the detained INEC official or confirmed whether formal charges had been filed.