Emeka Ike, the ace actor, says he will take legal action against Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, over violation of my privacy rights.

The controversy started after Olayinka shared personal information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) database, specifically details of Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo to Abuja.

Olayinka questioned the actor’s eligibility to contest a house of representatives seat in Abuja following his recent primary activities.

The leak, which Ike’s legal team described as a grave violation of privacy and a threat to national security, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the security of Nigeria’s electoral database.

Many Nigerians on social media also accused Olayinka of gaining unauthorised access to a password-protected backend system reserved exclusively for INEC officials.

In response on Tuesday, INEC dismissed allegations of a large-scale security breach or external hacking of its continuous voter registration (CVR) database.

The commission attributed the leak to the misuse of valid internal login credentials by personnel who overstepped their authorisation.

Speaking at a press conference, Leonard Adeh, Ike’s legal counsel, framed the incident as deeply troubling for Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“I view this situation, this very saddening situation, from two different perspectives. The first side is on my client, Honourable Emeka. I think this action by Lanre is a serious criminal breach of his right to privacy.

"Some external laws and regulations deal with situations of this nature,” he said.

Adeh described the leak as both an embarrassment to the actor and a potential threat to national security.

He confirmed that Ike’s legal team is currently reviewing the situation and cooperating with law enforcement agencies as investigations proceed.

“Now, it is a very serious crime against his person, which is something that legal actions, appropriate legal actions, will be taken accordingly,” Adeh said.

“So we have been reviewing the situation, and we are taking appropriate steps to ensure that we involve relevant law enforcement agencies to deal with the situation, and also consider civil actions.

“And I must say for a fact that this will eventually result in consequential damages for this reckless and brutal action.”

Speaking with newsmen, Ike revealed that he experienced a deep sense of vulnerability for the first time in his life after the incident.

The Nollywood star also confirmed that he will take legal action against Olayinka.

“I felt insecure. For the first time, I’m feeling like, ‘Is anybody saving this country anymore?’” Ike asked.

“It was shocking. It was so disturbing that I felt unsafe. Like that kind of feeling, that’s what it was like to me, like it’s an abuse of power.

“This is the extreme of radicalism. Political radicalism is basically telling Nigerians that ‘we are in charge’.

“Obviously, I will go to court, and my lawyer has already written to Lere and INEC. He has also written to my party, the DSS and the police so that it can be on record that stuff like this has happened in Nigeria.”

Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, had also weighed in, calling for a “transparent and independent” investigation.

Last month, Ike announced his intention to run for a seat in the house of representatives under the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

He revealed plans to contest the Abuja Municipal/Bwari federal constituency, saying his decision was driven by a desire to establish a “proper systematic structure” that can accelerate national development.