Voters’ privacy critical to public trust in 2027 elections, lawyers warn

The protection of voters’ personal data will be a critical factor in sustaining public trust ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, according to the Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI).

The organisation said that while attention has largely focused on electoral credibility, transparency, security and logistics, concerns around the handling of citizens’ personal information have become increasingly important as technology assumes a greater role in electoral administration.

To address the issue, DRLI will host a virtual stakeholders’ dialogue titled ‘2027 General Elections, Voters’ Privacy and Public Trust: Matters Arising’ on June 24, 2026.

The event is expected to bring together experts in human rights, accountability and digital governance to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with safeguarding voters’ data before the next general elections.

Participants include Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Khadijah El-Usman, senior programmes officer at Paradigm Initiative; Inibehe Effiong, principal of Inibehe Effiong Chambers; and the head of research and monitoring and evaluation at Yiaga Africa. The session will be moderated by Solomon Okedara, co-founder of DRLI.

According to DRLI, the increasing use of technology in voter registration, biometric verification, digital databases and electronic communications has improved efficiency in election management but has also introduced new privacy and security risks.

Okedara said confidence in elections extends beyond activities at polling units and includes trust in how citizens’ personal information is collected, processed and protected by public institutions.

“Public trust in elections is not built only at polling stations. It is also built through confidence that citizens’ personal information is collected, processed and protected responsibly. When citizens provide their data to institutions, they must have assurance that such information will not be exposed, exploited, or used in ways that undermine their rights,” he said.

Okedara noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the custodian of one of the country’s largest databases, bears significant responsibility in protecting voter information.

“INEC is one of the largest data controllers in Nigeria, processing the personal information of over 93 million registered voters. The scale and sensitivity of this data create significant responsibilities and risks. Any compromise of electoral data could have consequences beyond individual privacy; it could affect public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process,” he said.

He added that discussions around electoral data protection go beyond cybersecurity concerns and touch on issues of transparency, accountability, oversight and institutional responsibility.

DRLI said robust safeguards are needed to ensure that technology-driven electoral reforms strengthen democratic participation without creating vulnerabilities that could erode public confidence in the electoral system.

The organisation noted that as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, protecting the personal information of voters will be as important as safeguarding the integrity of the ballot itself.

The programme is supported by Luminate as part of efforts to promote digital rights, democratic accountability and responsible technology governance in Nigeria.