The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has inaugurated a joint working group between the NDPC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen the integration of data protection and privacy within Nigeria’s electoral system.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Olatunji emphasised the importance of the working group as INEC houses the personal data of about 94 million Nigerians, and that creating measures to safeguard the personal data of voters will further improve the credibility, trust and confidence in the electoral body by Nigerians.

Dr Olatunji noted that it is also important to engage political parties on how they process the information of their members, adding that collaboration between the NDPC and INEC is essential to achieving this. He expressed NDPC’s readiness to support INEC to ensure safeguard of voters’ personal data, especially as the 2027 elections draw near.

INEC’s Deputy Director, Management Information System, Dr Uzunma Aja Nwachukwu, commended NDPC for its role in deepening data protection and privacy in Nigeria. She noted that INEC was one of the beneficiaries of the first edition of the data protection training and certification by the NDPC. She noted that the knowledge gained at that training is being used to protect the personal data of Nigerians, and requested for more sensitisation programme for their staff.

The working group is expected to sensitise stakeholders on their mandated responsibilities as data controllers and data processors of major importance, ensure responsible data processing by registered political parties, civil society organisations, third-parties, and vendors, as well as promote the engagement of Data Protection Officers by registered political parties, among others.