The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plan to secure the personal data of about 94 million registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The collaboration between the two government agencies is stepping up efforts to embed data protection into its electoral infrastructure, in what signals a growing policy shift that links electoral integrity not only to voting processes, but also to how voter data is collected, stored, processed, and secured across increasingly digital platforms.

NDPC, INEC activate joint data protection framework

NDPC says it has inaugurated a joint working group with INEC to drive compliance across Nigeria’s electoral data ecosystem. The initiative will focus on sensitising stakeholders, enforcing data protection obligations, and strengthening accountability among political actors and service providers.

The framework targets political parties, civil society organisations, vendors, and third-party processors, with an emphasis on responsible data handling and the appointment of Data Protection Officers within political organisations, according to the data protection agency.

“INEC houses the personal data of about 94 million Nigerians, and creating measures to safeguard this data will further improve credibility, trust, and public confidence in the electoral body,” he says.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of NDPC, says the initiative integrates privacy engineering into Nigeria’s electoral systems.

“INEC houses the personal data of about 94 million Nigerians, and creating measures to safeguard this data will further improve credibility, trust, and public confidence in the electoral body,” he says.

Olatunji adds that engagement with political parties is critical to ensuring compliance across the full data lifecycle, particularly as campaigns and voter engagement activities become more data-driven.

INEC says it is already integrating data protection principles into its operations, building on previous capacity development programmes facilitated by NDPC.

Uzunma Aja Nwachukwu, Deputy Director of Management Information Systems at INEC, says earlier certification training has strengthened internal capabilities.

“INEC was one of the beneficiaries of the first edition of the data protection training and certification by NDPC, and the knowledge gained is being applied to protect the personal data of Nigerians,” she says.

She calls for expanded training and sensitisation programmes to deepen institutional capacity ahead of the next election cycle.

INEC’s expanding digital electoral infrastructure

INEC manages one of Nigeria’s largest and most sensitive public databases through its voter registration and election management systems. The Commission conducts elections into executive and legislative offices at federal and state levels, and oversees voter registration, political party regulation, and electoral logistics nationwide.

Over the years, INEC has deployed technology-driven systems such as biometric voter registration and electronic accreditation tools to improve transparency and reduce electoral fraud. These systems rely heavily on large-scale personal data processing, including biometric and demographic information of registered voters.

As outlined on its official platform, INEC’s mandate includes organising, undertaking, and supervising elections, as well as maintaining an accurate and secure national voter register—functions that place data governance at the centre of its operations.

Data protection emerges as electoral integrity pillar

The NDPC–INEC collaboration comes amid rising attention to data privacy within Nigeria’s governance and digital economy frameworks.

Established under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, NDPC is mandated to regulate data processing, enforce compliance, and promote responsible handling of personal information across sectors.

The Commission has expanded its engagements to safeguard large public datasets, including education records and other national databases, reflecting a broader strategy to secure critical information infrastructure.

2027 elections to test data governance readiness

With preparations gradually building toward the 2027 general elections, stakeholders say the integration of data protection into electoral systems will play a decisive role in shaping public trust.

By embedding privacy standards into voter data management and extending compliance obligations across the electoral value chain, NDPC and INEC are positioning data governance as a core component of electoral credibility.

As Nigeria’s elections become more digitised, the ability to secure voter information at scale is expected to influence not only operational efficiency but also confidence in democratic outcomes.