2027: INEC, City Boy Movement Mum As Alleged PVC Data Collection Video Sparks Outrage

A video showing alleged members of the City Boy Movement collecting information from traders’ Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at a Lagos market has sparked public outrage, raising fresh concerns about the activities of political support groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows individuals identified as members of the movement examining traders’ PVCs and apparently copying information from the cards into membership registration forms.

Some of those seen in the video were wearing white T-shirts and caps associated with the City Boy Movement, a political support group backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The development has triggered questions about why a political organisation would require voters’ identification details, what the information would be used for and whether the traders fully understood the implications of handing over their voter information.

As of the time of filing this report, the movement had yet to issue a specific public response to the latest video, despite mounting reactions and calls for an explanation.

The controversy comes amid heightened political mobilisation and the establishment of grassroots structures by political groups ahead of the 2027 elections.

Why Are Political Groups Collecting PVC Details?

The collection of PVC information has become a contentious issue because of the importance of voters’ personal details in the electoral process.

A Permanent Voter Card contains information used to identify a registered voter, including a unique Voter Identification Number (VIN).

While political parties and support groups are permitted to mobilise supporters and recruit members, questions arise when such activities involve examining and recording information from official electoral documents.

The latest incident has also drawn attention to the distinction between political membership registration and the statutory voter registration process conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The movement had, on November 2, issued a statement clarifying its membership registration exercise following earlier concerns about its activities.

In the statement signed by its Deputy Director-General, Media, Communication and Public Affairs, O’Tega Ogra, the organisation said its registration exercise was intended to update its membership records, strengthen its organisational structure and coordinate its activities nationwide.

It maintained that the exercise was separate from INEC’s voter registration process.

“CBM membership registration and INEC voter registration serve distinct purposes,” the movement stated.

It further explained that its membership register was strictly for organisational purposes, adding that registering with the group did not confer voting eligibility or alter anyone’s details in INEC’s register.

The movement also insisted that participation was voluntary and that its membership forms and cards were not official electoral documents.

However, the latest footage has raised questions about whether the collection of PVC details was part of the membership registration exercise and what safeguards were in place to protect the information obtained.

From Grassroots Mobilisation To Voter Data Concerns

The controversy comes days after the movement intensified its grassroots mobilisation activities in Lagos State.

At the inauguration of its ward executives in Lagos West 1 Senatorial District on November 5, the movement’s Deputy Director-General in Lagos, Temitope Adedeji, reportedly urged the new executives to establish a database of members and build structures across polling units.

“We must have the data for our wards and polling units. We must have a representative in each polling unit. Beyond the dancing, our responsibility is to go to our ward levels and mobilise the polling units,” Adedeji was quoted as saying.

Similarly, the movement’s Lagos Director-General, Moyosore Ogunlewe, who is also the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area, urged members to take their mobilisation activities to markets and communities.

“Our job is to take the message to the grassroots and to counter fake news and misinformation,” he said.

He added: “Be present at our meetings and markets. Mobilise our youths to get their PVCs. We must deliver all our candidates.”

While the statements point to an organised grassroots mobilisation strategy, the latest video has intensified scrutiny of how such activities are being conducted and whether voters’ personal information is being collected with adequate safeguards.

Nigerians React: ‘Is This How They Want To Win In 2027?’

The footage has generated strong reactions on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the intentions behind the exercise and calling on INEC to investigate.

A social media user, @Baddestkhalifa7, expressed concern about the economic circumstances that could make people vulnerable to political inducements.

“I weep for my country, for my presence like this them dey sell their voting right because of umbrella. Welcome to Nigeria, my country,” the user wrote.

Another user, @Dee_9889, questioned the collection of voters’ identification numbers and urged INEC to intervene.

“The City Boys Movement is reportedly collecting people’s PVCs and copying their VINs. @inecnigeria, doesn’t this amount to election rigging even before election day?” the user asked.

The user also warned Nigerians against surrendering their voter cards or allowing their details to be copied without understanding the purpose.

Another user, @spoiltkid, alleged that Seyi Tinubu was supervising vote-buying activities through the movement.

However, the allegation was not supported by evidence in the video provided.

Similarly, @sweetsixtien described the footage as evidence of alleged electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 elections, writing: “See how Tinubu intends to IMPOSE himself on Nigerians in 2027.”

Not all reactions were directed at the movement alone, as some users expressed broader frustration with the country’s political environment.

One user, @_nonconformist1, wrote: “All these no go work. You people don’t know what’s coming.”

What Does The Law Say?

Beyond the political controversy, the development raises questions about the protection of voters’ personal information under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

The law requires organisations collecting and processing personal data to have a lawful basis for doing so and to ensure that such information is handled fairly, transparently and for specified purposes.

Section 24 of the Act outlines principles governing personal data processing, including purpose limitation, data minimisation, storage limitation and protection against unauthorised access.

Section 25 also provides for lawful bases for processing personal information, including the consent of the individual concerned.

This means political organisations collecting personal information must be able to explain why the information is required, how it will be used and the safeguards against its misuse.

The Electoral Act 2026 also contains provisions addressing electoral offences, including the improper use of voters’ cards.

Section 121 provides penalties for persons who unlawfully buy, sell, procure or deal in voters’ cards, with a maximum fine of N5 million, imprisonment for 12 months or both upon conviction.

However, the mere recording of information from a PVC does not, by itself, establish an offence under that provision. The circumstances and purpose of the exercise would need to be established.

For many Nigerians, the central concern is whether political mobilisation is gradually crossing into the collection of sensitive electoral information that could potentially be used to influence voters or compromise their privacy.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the latest controversy presents another test for electoral authorities and political organisations to demonstrate transparency and respect for voters’ rights.

INEC is yet to publicly address the specific footage, while the City Boy Movement’s silence on the latest controversy has left questions about the purpose of the exercise unanswered.