Claim
A WhatsApp user made a post asking voters who registered in 2011 to revalidate their voters card at the nearest INEC office.
Full Text
A WhatsApp user made a post on his/her status asking voters who registered in 2011 to revalidate their voters card at the nearest INEC office.
According to the user, the new INEC card reader for 2023 elections will not be able to read such card. The user asked viewers to spread the information so that voters won’t be disenfranchised at the polling unit.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had suspended the online voter pre-registration exercise on May 30th while the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise would be suspended on June 30, 2022 in readiness for the 2023 general elections.
Conclusion
The claim is false, PVCs issued in 2011 does not need to be revalidated.
Verification
Checks by FactCheckElection shows that the news has been debunked before here.
According to chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi voter cards issued in 2011 can be used to vote in future elections — without revalidation.
“The Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) issued by INEC in 2011 and after can be still be used by their respective owners to vote in all elections, including the upcoming Federal Capital Territoy (FCT) Area Council Elections, the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections, as well as the 2023 General Election,” he had said.
Speaking on the use of a new card reader for the 2023 General Election, Oyekanmi said it is not true but the Commission intends to use a multi-purpose gadget, known as the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED).
“It is also not true that the Commission will use the so-called ‘New Card Reader’ for the 2023 General Election.
“What the Commission intends to use is a multi-purpose gadget, known as the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED). It is currently being used for the physical registration of voters. During an election, it will facilitate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which provides for both fingerprint and facial authentication.
“The device will also be used to upload individual polling unit election results to the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) in real time on election day.”
He further urged the general public to disregard the fake news adding that “there is no need to revalidate any PVC issued by INEC for election purposes.”