“Voter Register Is Public, Not Confidential” — INEC Asks Court To Dismiss Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn Privacy Suit

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant Emeka Ike over the publication of his voter registration details. INEC argues that information contained in the register of voters is legally accessible to the public, making it impossible for Ike's privacy to be breached. The court will now consider whether Ike's right to privacy has been violated by the publication of his voter registration details.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor and House of Representatives aspirant Emeka Ike over the publication of his voter registration details. This development is significant as it highlights the tension between individual privacy rights and the public's right to access information contained in electoral registers. The court will now consider whether Ike's right to privacy has been violated by the publication of his voter registration details.

In Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2020 provides for the creation and maintenance of a register of voters. Section 9 of the Act states that the register shall be open to public inspection during working hours at designated offices. This provision suggests that information contained in the register is intended to be publicly accessible. However, individuals may still argue that their privacy rights are being infringed upon by the publication of their voter registration details.

The INEC's argument that information contained in the register of voters is legally accessible to the public has significant implications for individual privacy rights. If the court accepts this argument, it would mean that individuals cannot claim a right to privacy over information that is already publicly available. This could have far-reaching consequences for the way electoral registers are managed and maintained in Nigeria.

The outcome of this matter will be closely watched by legal practitioners and scholars interested in the intersection of individual privacy rights and public access to information contained in electoral registers. The court's ruling will provide clarity on the extent to which individuals can claim a right to privacy over publicly available information.