A team of highly skilled hackers arrived in Abuja on Sunday to manipulate the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) results viewing portal, IREV, following the highly contested Edo State governorship election.
The group flew into the Nigerian capital via an Ethiopian Airlines flight and immediately met with a prominent senator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) upon arrival.
Sources familiar with the situation told Leaders.ng that the hackers have been lodged in a luxury hotel in Maitama, where they will meet with some compromised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The hotel, serving as their operational base, is where the team is preparing for their digital assault on the electoral process.
Their mission is to infiltrate and alter the uploaded results of the Edo election, in favour of the APC’s candidate.
According to an insider, the hackers’ goal is to exploit weaknesses in the IREV system and change figures that were uploaded in real-time during the election.
“This is a deliberate and highly coordinated plan to undermine the democratic process.
“The hackers were brought in specifically for this purpose, and their coordination with key political figures highlights the seriousness of this operation,” a source told Leaders.ng.
It is believed that the senator involved in welcoming the hackers holds a senior position within the APC and has long been involved in political manoeuvrings behind the scenes.
The Maitama hotel discreetly known for hosting high-profile guests and covert meetings, is said to be equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Sources have described the hotel suite where the hackers are staying as a “digital war room,” with high-speed internet connections and sophisticated computer systems ready for use.
The hackers believed to be a mix of local and foreign experts, are reportedly working around the clock to ensure that their task is completed before INEC presents the official results to the Edo state election petition tribunal.