INEC Database Can Be Hacked – Ex-INEC Chairman

Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has said that there is a possibility that the commission’s database can be hacked.

Commenting on issues surrounding INEC’s preparation ahead of the Saturday polls, Jega commended the level of preparedness by the electoral body, adding that he can’t guarantee that the commission’s database can’t be hacked.

He said;

“You see, in this modern age, nobody can give you 100 per cent assurance that a database cannot be hacked, unless the database is not online.

“In 2015, when we did the elections, our database wasn’t online. But now, particularly because there’s the issue of electronic transmission of results, it has to be online.

“But all over the world, databases are used and they are relatively safe to be used because people now deploy effective cyber-security systems.”

Jega disclosed that INEC had confirmed employing an excellent cyber security for their databases. He added;

“And INEC had said consistently, that knowing the political terrain, they have also got the best cyber security for the databases that they have. And we have to believe that they’ve done their best.

“It doesn’t mean it will be 100 per cent secure, but I know that whoever uses a database, also uses a security alternative which virtually nobody knows.”