The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, delivered the keynote address at the 2026 Nigeria eGovernment Summit, focusing on the theme “Mainstreaming Technologies in Nigeria Election Management: The Data Protection Imperative.”
Dr Olatunji praised the organisers for maintaining the summit over the years, noting that the 2026 edition represents the 8th edition of the event. He traced Nigeria’s electoral technology journey from traditional manual processes to innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), as well as emerging digital technologies that could shape future elections.
According to him, the adoption of technology has significantly improved the efficiency, transparency and credibility of electoral processes. However, he stressed that technological progress also comes with greater responsibility, particularly as election systems increasingly collect and process large volumes of personal and biometric information. He therefore emphasised the need for strong data governance to maintain public confidence in the electoral system.
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Dr Olatunji explained that virtually every stage of an election generates a digital data trail, creating both opportunities and potential risks. While technologies used in elections have helped address challenges such as voter impersonation, multiple registrations and delays during accreditation, they have also created new concerns, including data breaches, voter profiling, third-party risks and declining public trust.
He noted that the effectiveness of electoral technology should not be measured solely by its technical performance. For digital election systems to support credible and legitimate elections, citizens must have confidence that their personal information is adequately protected, electoral systems are secure and election results can be trusted.
Referencing the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023, the NDPC chief executive said the Commission is collaborating closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen the protection of voters’ personal and sensitive information.
He highlighted several measures that could contribute to a more secure digital electoral environment, including legislative reforms, Data Privacy Impact Assessments (DPIAs), independent audits, public awareness initiatives, capacity building and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Dr Olatunji stressed that protecting citizens’ data must remain a shared responsibility across the electoral ecosystem. He said that by combining technological innovation with effective data protection practices, Nigeria can develop a trusted digital election system that protects citizens’ rights, strengthens public confidence and supports democratic governance ahead of the 2027 elections and beyond.
