INEC has declared social media claims about a voter card revalidation exercise false. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, eligible voters need to verify their data, but no official start date has been announced. INEC confirmed on March 4, 2025, that the rumors lacked substance and appealed to the public to ignore them.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has dismissed claims circulating on social media about the start of a voter card revalidation exercise. As the nation prepares for the 2027 elections, some eligible voters will need to verify their information in INEC’s voter database, but no official announcement about a specific date has been made.
Revalidation is part of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process, enabling registered voters to confirm their existing data. Applicants must have been registered for over five years and not have revalidated their information in the past three years.
The rumor began on Facebook in March 2025, when posts claimed that INEC had officially launched a voter card revalidation exercise. These messages described the news as “exciting” and encouraged users to share it widely. However, a review of credible sources, including mainstream media, did not reveal any confirmation of such an announcement.
INEC officially responded on March 4, 2025, via its Facebook page, labeling the posts as unfounded and untrue. INEC clarified that no resumption date for the CVR has been set, appealing to the public to disregard these misleading claims. Furthermore, similar false announcements have been identified on various social media platforms, including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
The spread of misinformation poses significant challenges. The public can refer to guides provided by platforms like Africa Check, a partner in Meta’s third-party fact-checking program, to avoid sharing incorrect information and to understand the implications of spreading false narratives.
INEC has denounced false claims regarding the voter card revalidation process. While it is vital for eligible voters to maintain their information in the electoral database, they are cautioned against engaging with unverified information circulating on social media. INEC urges vigilance and discarding of misleading narratives, emphasizing the importance of accurate communication as the country gears up for the 2027 elections.
Original Source: africacheck.org
