NDPC vows to prosecute anyone tampering with voter data ahead of 2027 polls
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has vowed to prosecute anyone found tampering with citizens' personal data ahead of the 2027 general elections. National Commissioner Vincent Olatunji issued the warning during a Channels Television interview on Saturday, stating the commission is intensifying monitoring of how political parties and institutions handle voter-related data as election activities gain momentum.
Olatunji expressed concern that political groups are collecting large volumes of voter data without adequate privacy safeguards, noting many lack awareness of required protections. "They are collecting data of their party members. What kind of privacy safeguards, what kind of guardrails they have that they put in place. They don’t even know. That’s the truth. Anyone found revealing people’s data will be prosecuted," he emphasized, highlighting growing national concerns over data privacy in the electoral process.
The NDPC’s heightened monitoring comes amid increased data collection by political actors ahead of next year’s polls, with Olatunji stressing that violations will trigger legal action. This development signals heightened scrutiny of data practices during Nigeria’s election cycle, directly impacting how citizens’ personal information is handled by parties, candidates, and related institutions during voter outreach and campaign activities.
With political groups actively gathering voter data ahead of 2027, how confident are you that your personal information is adequately protected during this election cycle?