“We Must Have The Data For Our Wards And Polling Units” — City Boy Movement Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged PVC Data Collection Ahead Of 2027 Elections

A viral video allegedly showing members of the City Boy Movement collecting information from traders’ Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at a Lagos market has sparked controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising concerns about voter data protection, political mobilisation and possible violations of electoral laws.

The footage shows individuals wearing white T-shirts and caps associated with the City Boy Movement, a political support group backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, examining traders’ PVCs and apparently recording details from the cards on membership registration forms.

The development has generated questions about why a political support organisation would require information contained in official voter cards, how such data would be used and whether the affected traders understood the implications of providing their personal information.

As of the time of the original report, neither the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nor the City Boy Movement had issued a specific public response addressing the latest footage.

The controversy comes amid increasing grassroots mobilisation by political organisations preparing for the 2027 elections, particularly efforts to establish membership databases and structures across wards and polling units.

Although political groups are permitted to recruit members and mobilise supporters, the collection of information from PVCs has raised concerns because the cards contain personal electoral details, including unique Voter Identification Numbers (VINs).

The latest footage has also renewed questions about the distinction between voluntary political membership registration and the statutory voter registration exercise conducted by INEC.

On November 2, 2026, the City Boy Movement issued a statement clarifying the purpose of 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 movement explained that the exercise was intended to update its membership records, strengthen its organisational structure and coordinate activities across the country.

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

It maintained that its membership database was strictly for organisational purposes and that registration with the movement did not confer voting eligibility or alter information contained in INEC’s official register of voters.

The group also insisted that participation in the exercise was voluntary and that its membership forms and cards were not official electoral documents.

However, the latest video has raised fresh questions about whether the collection of PVC details formed part of the movement’s membership exercise and what safeguards were established to protect information obtained from members of the public.

The controversy follows recent statements by officials of the movement encouraging the establishment of grassroots databases and increased mobilisation across Lagos State.

During the inauguration of the movement’s ward executives in Lagos West 1 Senatorial District on November 5, its Deputy Director-General in Lagos, Temitope Adedeji, reportedly directed the new officials to establish membership databases and develop organisational 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 also serves as Chairman of Kosofe Local Government Area, urged members to intensify their mobilisation activities in markets and communities.

“Our job is to take the message to the grassroots and to counter fake news and misinformation,” Ogunlewe 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 indicate an organised effort to establish grassroots political structures, the viral footage has prompted questions about how the registration activities are being conducted and whether adequate protection exists for personal information obtained during the exercise.

The video has attracted reactions on social media, with some Nigerians demanding an explanation from the movement and calling on INEC to investigate the alleged collection of voter identification details.

A social media user identified as @Baddestkhalifa7 expressed concern that economic hardship could expose some citizens 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 VINs and called on INEC to examine the development.

“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 personal details to be copied without understanding the purpose of the exercise.

Another commentator, @spoiltkid, alleged that Seyi Tinubu was supervising vote-buying activities through the movement. However, the supplied account did not provide evidence establishing that allegation.

Similarly, @sweetsixtien accused the movement of attempting to manipulate the electoral process, writing: “See how Tinubu intends to IMPOSE himself on Nigerians in 2027.”

A further reaction came from @_nonconformist1, who wrote: “All these no go work. You people don’t know what’s coming.”

Beyond the political reactions, the controversy has raised legal questions concerning the collection and processing of voters’ personal information under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

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

Section 25 addresses the lawful bases for processing personal information, including consent in appropriate circumstances.

These requirements raise questions about whether individuals whose PVC information is collected are adequately informed about the purpose of the exercise, the intended use of their information and the measures taken to prevent misuse or unauthorised disclosure.

The Electoral Act 2026 also contains provisions addressing electoral offences involving voters’ cards.

Section 121 prescribes penalties for unlawful dealings in voter cards, including buying, selling or procuring them, with penalties of up to ₦5 million in fines, 12 months’ imprisonment or both upon conviction.

However, the mere recording of information from a PVC does not automatically establish an electoral offence. Determining whether any law has been violated would require examination of the circumstances, purpose and manner of the collection, as well as the applicable statutory provisions.

The available footage does not, by itself, establish vote-buying, election rigging or unauthorised access to INEC’s voter register.

Nevertheless, the controversy has intensified calls for transparency concerning the activities of political support groups and the protection of voters’ personal information ahead of the next general elections.

Questions remain about whether the traders voluntarily provided their PVC details, whether the information was collected exclusively for membership registration and what measures were adopted to prevent its use beyond the stated purpose.

While the City Boy Movement had previously maintained that its membership exercise was separate from INEC’s statutory responsibilities, its earlier clarification did not specifically address the transactions shown in the latest footage.

INEC had also not publicly addressed the particular video in the original report.

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