City Boy Movement says its membership registration is not INEC voter registration

The City Boy Movement says its ongoing membership registration has nothing to do with the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) voter registration, and that signing up with the movement does not register anyone to vote. It made the comments in a statement by its Deputy Director-General for Media, Communication and Public Affairs, O'tega Ogra, the Nigerian Tribune and The Nation reported on Monday 2 November.

The movement was responding to reports that its registration drive was linked to, or interfered with, the electoral process. It said the exercise is only meant to update its membership records, strengthen its structures and coordinate its activities, and that people can register in person or through its website.

“Registration with CBM does not register anyone to vote, does not confer voting eligibility, does not amend any person’s entry in INEC’s register, and does not replace any requirement prescribed by INEC,” the statement said, according to The Nation. It added that the movement's membership forms and cards are not INEC documents and are not a substitute for the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

The movement said joining is voluntary, that nobody is being forced to register, and that members are free to leave or make their own political and electoral choices. It denied impersonating INEC. It also said personal details collected during registration would be handled in line with data protection laws, and asked anyone with specific complaints or evidence of misconduct to report them through its verified channels.

According to The Nation, the statement also defended the movement's patron, Seyi Tinubu, against what it called attempts to link him to alleged wrongdoing because of his association with the group. The reports did not say who made the original claims or give details of them.

In plain terms: only INEC can register you to vote, and only your PVC lets you vote. A City Boy Movement membership card, like any party or group membership card, has no role in the election itself. These are the movement's own statements; the reports did not include an independent check of how its registration works in practice.

For background on the group, its officials and earlier news, see the ST Office City Boy Movement page at seyitinubu.com/city-boy-movement.

Sources: Nigerian Tribune (“CBM dismisses claims of electoral interference, says membership registration voluntary”, 2 November 2026) and The Nation (“City Boy Movement clarifies membership registration, dismisses claims of interference with INEC”, 2 November 2026).

ST Office is an independent news explainer. It is not affiliated with the City Boy Movement, Seyi Tinubu, the Presidency or any political party.

Pidgin: City Boy Movement talk say im membership registration no get anything to do with INEC voter registration. If you register with dem, e no mean say you fit vote; na only INEC registration and your PVC dey make you vote. Dem talk say nobody dey force anybody join.

How this affects you: If you want to vote in January 2027, make sure you are on INEC's register and have collected your PVC. Joining the City Boy Movement, or any group, does not do that for you, and you are free to say no. Before giving your personal details to anyone, check who is collecting them and why.

More on the movement: City Boy Movement: what it is, who leads it and latest news

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