Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has reignited public debate over the age of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels at the time of her marriage to billionaire politician Senator Ned Nwoko, challenging the senator’s recent claims that she was 21 years old, not 17 as widely circulated online.
The disagreement escalated after Senator Nwoko took to social media on Thursday morning to share what he described as Regina Daniels’ INEC voter’s card, intended to prove that the actress was 21 when they wed in 2019. The voter card showed her date of birth as 1998, which aligns with Nwoko’s version of events and contradicts widespread reports suggesting she was underage at the time of the marriage.
Sowore Presents Passport Contradicting Voter Card
However, shortly after Nwoko’s social media post, Sowore countered the claim by sharing a copy of Regina Daniels’ international passport, which he says was issued based on her official birth certificate. According to Sowore, the passport indicates that the actress was born on October 10, 2001, meaning she would have been under 18 years old at the time of her marriage to Nwoko in 2019, contradicting the voter card evidence.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Sowore wrote: “We have obtained a copy from Regina Daniels’s international passport, which was issued based on her birth certificate. She was underage at the time of her marriage to Chinedu @Senator Prince Ned Nwoko.” He further explained that international passports are issued only after thorough verification of official documents, making them more reliable than voter cards, which may not undergo as strict a validation process.
"It’s crucial to question INEC Nigeria on this discrepancy, as he is currently using an @INECNigeria voter’s card to assert her age. As he knows, the process for obtaining a voter’s card may not involve the rigorous scrutiny required for an international passport, which is based on a birth certificate and other legitimate IDs,” Sowore added.
Allegations of Deliberate Cover-Up
Sowore further accused Senator Nwoko of intentionally concealing the true age of his wife. According to the activist, Nwoko deliberately avoided traveling with Regina to Europe or the United States, fearing that official scrutiny in these countries could expose inconsistencies between her documents.
“The crooked All Progressives Congress Senator knew what he was doing. That’s the reason he never travelled with @ReginaDaniels to Europe or America,” Sowore alleged, implying that Nwoko had orchestrated a calculated effort to prevent independent verification of her age.
Social Media Reacts
The renewed debate over Regina Daniels’ age has ignited intense discussions on social media, with many Nigerians calling for clarity from both the senator and the actress. Users are divided, with some arguing that the issue should have been conclusively resolved years ago, while others commend Sowore for challenging the narrative and “standing for the truth.”
Some commentators have emphasized the legal and ethical implications, noting that if the passport evidence is accurate, it would mean the marriage took place while Regina Daniels was still a minor, raising serious questions about consent and legality. Others have focused on the broader issue of document authenticity and public accountability, urging government agencies such as INEC to explain discrepancies between official records.
Meanwhile, the discussion continues to trend online, with hashtags referencing the controversy appearing across Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, reflecting the enduring public interest in high-profile celebrity marriages and the accountability of influential figures in Nigerian society.