NDPC and INEC Form Joint Working Group for Voter Privacy
Summary
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have inaugurated a joint working group to safeguard the personal data of approximately 94 million Nigerian voters. NDPC National Commissioner Dr Vincent Olatunji emphasised that INEC houses significant voter personal data and that creating protective measures will improve trust in the electoral body, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections. The working group is expected to sensitise stakeholders on data controller and processor responsibilities and promote responsible data processing by political parties, civil society organisations, and vendors.
This working group formation signals Nigeria's increasing focus on electoral data protection as the 2027 election cycle approaches. While the group functions in an advisory and coordination capacity rather than as a direct regulatory authority, it positions NDPC to develop guidance specific to political parties and election-related data processing. Political parties as data controllers should monitor for forthcoming sensitisation programmes and consider proactively engaging NDPC to understand emerging compliance expectations. The collaboration also suggests NDPC is building institutional capacity to oversee data processing by non-traditional entities such as political organisations.
What changed
NDPC and INEC have formed a joint working group focused on strengthening data protection and privacy within Nigeria's electoral system. The group will sensitise stakeholders on data controller and processor responsibilities, ensure responsible data processing by political parties, civil society organisations, and third-party vendors, and promote the appointment of Data Protection Officers by registered political parties. INEC's Deputy Director noted that INEC staff previously benefited from NDPC's data protection certification training and will seek additional sensitisation programmes.
Affected parties including political parties, civil society organisations, third-party vendors, and election-related data processors should anticipate increased scrutiny of their data handling practices. While the working group currently operates in an advisory and sensitisation capacity, it signals NDPC's intent to actively regulate data processing in the electoral context ahead of the 2027 elections. Political parties that process voter information should begin reviewing their data protection policies and considering the appointment of Data Protection Officers to align with expected regulatory expectations.
Archived snapshot
Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
- Home
- News
News
Securing 94 Million Identities: NDPC and INEC Form Strategic Pact to Safeguard Voter Privacy
- April 15, 2026
- 10:23 am
Share The Article
Recent Articles
- Securing the Future: NDPC and NELFund Partner to Protect the Personal Data of 1.3 Million Students
- Securing 94 Million Identities: NDPC and INEC Form Strategic Pact to Safeguard Voter Privacy
- NDPC Offers Specialized DPO Certification and Privacy Training to Federal Character Commission Staff
- NDPC Kicks Off 2nd Edition of DPO Certification to Position Nigeria as a Global Privacy Hub
- NDPC Hosts 3rd IMPACT Initiative: Positions Compliance Audit Returns as Key to Corporate Risk Management 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.
Related changes
Get daily alerts for NDPC Nigeria News
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from NDPC.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when NDPC Nigeria News publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.