A digital rights advocacy group, the Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI), has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, over the alleged failure to publish a privacy policy on its official website.

The suit, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of DRLI and marked FHC/YNG/CS/148/2026, argues that INEC has not provided information explaining how it collects, processes, stores, shares, or protects the personal data of users who access its website.

According to the group, the omission is contrary to the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, which requires organisations handling personal data to make their privacy practices publicly available.

The applicant, through its counsel, Dr. Olumide Babalola, also contends that the electoral commission’s failure to publish a privacy policy violates the constitutional right to privacy guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The group is asking the court to declare that INEC has breached its obligations under the NDPA and to compel the commission to immediately publish a comprehensive privacy policy on its website. It is also seeking an order directing INEC to file an affidavit confirming compliance within seven days of implementing the court’s decision.

The case highlights growing concerns over data protection and transparency among public institutions, particularly as INEC maintains one of Nigeria’s largest databases containing the personal and biometric information of millions of registered voters.

INEC had not issued an official response to the lawsuit as of the time of filing, while the court is yet to fix a date for hearing the matter. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.