Our Membership Registration Is Voluntary, Not INEC Voter Registration – City Boy Movement

The City Boy Movement (CBM) has defended its ongoing membership registration exercise, insisting that it is voluntary and has no connection with the statutory voter registration conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The movement, in a statement issued on Monday by its Deputy Director-General, Media, Communication and Public Affairs, O’tega Ogra, said its registration exercise was designed to maintain membership records, strengthen organisational structures and coordinate its activities.

“Our membership registration and INEC voter registration serve distinct purposes,” the movement declared, stressing that its membership register was strictly for organisational purposes.

It explained that registration with CBM neither qualifies anyone to vote nor alters an individual’s entry in INEC’s register of voters.

“A CBM membership form or card is not an INEC registration document or a voter’s card,” the statement added.

The clarification followed what the movement described as misleading reports and commentary surrounding its registration exercise.

CBM maintained that participation was entirely voluntary, adding that Nigerians were free to decline membership, withdraw from the movement and exercise independent political and electoral choices.

“No Nigerian is being coerced or otherwise compelled to register with CBM,” it said, dismissing suggestions that the exercise amounted to interference with electoral rights.

The movement also addressed concerns surrounding the collection of members’ personal information, assuring Nigerians that registration data would be processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws, with safeguards against unauthorised access and disclosure.

On allegations involving its Patron, Seyi Tinubu, CBM rejected what it described as attempts to attribute wrongdoing to him or its officers merely because of their association with the organisation.

It urged political leaders, commentators and media organisations to verify information before circulating allegations, while welcoming legitimate enquiries and evidence-based scrutiny.

The movement said it remained committed to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s re-election through peaceful and lawful democratic participation.