INEC Disregards False Claims About Voter Card Revalidation Start Date

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has declared that recent claims regarding the start of revalidating voter cards are false. While preparing for the 2027 elections, INEC emphasized the importance of continuous voter registration and urged the public to disregard misleading announcements circulating on social media that imply an official revalidation date has been set.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has officially contested claims circulating on social media regarding the commencement of revalidating voter cards. As the nation gears up for the 2027 elections, the process of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is crucial for voters who must ensure their information is current.
Revalidation is a key aspect of this exercise, permitting voters to confirm and update the details in their voter profiles maintained by INEC. Eligible applicants must have registered over five years prior and must not have participated in a revalidation for the last three years.
In March 2025, misleading claims surfaced on Facebook alleging that INEC had set a date for this exercise. One disturbing post drew attention by asserting: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced the commencement of the Voter Identification Card Revalidation Exercise.”
Despite these claims, INEC clarified that no official announcement had been made, urging the public to disregard such misinformation. According to their statement on March 4, the commission responded to viral claims by stating, “The report is untrue. The Commission has not announced any resumption date for the CVR.” Thus, they encouraged the public to remain vigilant against misinformation.
Several posts continued to spread the fabricated news across social media platforms, indicating the persistent issue of false claims. Fact-checkers and organizations such as Africa Check are partnering with Meta to mitigate the dangers of misinformation, providing guidelines for readers and publishers to discern inaccuracies.

In summary, reports about INEC announcing a date for voter card revalidation are unfounded and misleading. The commission has urged the public to ignore these false claims. As the 2027 elections approach, it is vital for voters to stay informed and verify information through official channels, ensuring accurate participation in the electoral process. Collaborations with social media platforms to combat misinformation are also increasingly essential.

Original Source: africacheck.org