2015: House of Reps to probe alleged hacking of INEC database

BY ABU IDRISU

Following the allegation made by the Department of State Services (DSS), that the All Progressives Congress, (APC) had planned to hack into the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the House of Representatives has decided to investigate the claims.

On Tuesday, January 13, during its first plenary session of the year, the House resolved that it would set up high powered committee to investigate the allegation and report back to the House within two weeks.

This resolution was reached after a motion was brought to the floor of the House under Matters of National Importance by the Deputy Majority Leader, Rep Leo Ogor, PDP, Isoko Fed Constituency.

In his motion entitled: ‘The unauthorized and alleged hacking into the INEC Data Base’, Ogor said: that “the INEC is vested by the Nigerian constitution with the responsibilities to carry out the functions of conducting elections into elective positions in the country.”

He said: “The DSS allegations relating to the alleged plan to hack into the INEC database is a very serious allegation. And that the allegations coming at the heels of an election period calls for. Concern that should not be treated with levity.”

Ogor stated that the INEC database may contain highly sensitive data and if compromised, it could cast doubt on the integrity of the forth coming elections.

He said the House was convinced “that the voters registration information and data, habouring specific strategies and modalities on which INEC deployment of election plans and anchored may be in the database.”

Consequently, the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal put the debate to a voice vote and it was unanimously adopted.