Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that the unauthorized disclosure of voter information from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) database poses a severe threat to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the security breach exposes the vulnerability of Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure to political manipulation well ahead of the official campaign season.

Internal Vulnerabilities and Accountability

While INEC previously reassured the public that its systems were not compromised by external hackers, the commission confirmed that sensitive voter data was accessed using valid official credentials and subsequently leaked without authorization.

Atiku maintained that the lack of an external cyberattack does not diminish the severity of the breach. Instead, he argued, it raises critical questions regarding internal controls, institutional safeguards, and potential partisan interference.

"The Commission has now confirmed that voter information was accessed through credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise and that such information was released without authority," Atiku stated. "That admission alone should concern every Nigerian."

Political Implications and Context

The former Vice President highlighted the political context surrounding the leak, noting that the data was made public by Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku linked the disclosure to recent public remarks by Minister Wike, who confidently predicted that Atiku would fail to secure up to ten percent of the votes in Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election. Atiku questioned whether such assertions stem from standard political rhetoric or point to privileged access to an institution constitutionally mandated to remain neutral.

Demands for Transparency and Investigation

Describing the incident as a litmus test for the independence of Nigeria’s electoral bodies, Atiku demanded full transparency regarding the chain of custody of the leaked data. He called for a comprehensive disclosure detailing who requested, retrieved, and received the information from INEC's custody.

While acknowledging INEC's internal measures—including identifying the compromised user account and questioning relevant personnel—Atiku emphasized that accountability must go further. He welcomed the independent investigation initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS), noting that the public expects a rigorous and transparent inquiry.

"The credibility of the 2027 election will not be determined solely on election day," Atiku said. "It is being shaped right now by the willingness of institutions to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and independence."