Securing The Democratic Process: NDPC Champions Data Privacy In Election Management At eGovernment Summit 2026
By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, was the Keynote speaker at the Nigeria eGovernment Summit 2026 on the theme, “Mainstreaming Technologies in Nigeria Election Management: The Data Protection Imperative.”
In his address, Dr. Olatunji commended the organisers for their sustained efforts in organising the Summit over the years, noting that the 2026 edition marks the 8th edition of the event. Beginning with the evolution from manual processes to BVAS, IReV and future digital innovations, he highlighted how technology has improved efficiency, transparency and credibility. He added, however, that every technological advancement also increases the volume of personal and biometric data collected, making responsible data governance essential to sustaining public trust and confidence in democratic processes.
Dr. Olatunji emphasised that every stage of the electoral process left a data trail and therefore created both opportunities and risks. Olatunji said while election technologies had reduced voter impersonation, multiple registrations and accreditation delays, they also introduced vulnerabilities such as data breaches, voter profiling, third-party risks and loss of trust. He noted that technological success alone was insufficient arguing citizens must trust that systems were secure, data was protected and results were authentic for elections to retain legitimacy.
Drawing on the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act), the NDPC boss noted that the Commission was working closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that voters’ personal and sensitive data were well protected. He noted that through legislative reforms, Data Privacy Impact Assessments (DPIAs), independent audits, public awareness, capacity building and shared responsibility among stakeholders, Nigeria could build a trusted digital electoral ecosystem that safeguarded citizens’ rights while strengthening democratic governance ahead of 2027 and beyond.
