The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced plans to provide voting centres for internally displaced persons in nine local government areas of Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Samuel Egwu, disclosed this on Wednesday at a meeting with leaders of political parties and other stakeholders at the commission’s headquarters in Jos.
According to Egwu, the arrangement is being considered to ensure that citizens displaced by insecurity are not denied their constitutional right to participate in elections.
He said voting facilities might be established in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Mangu, Kanam, Kanke, Wase and Bokkos if the affected residents are unable to return to their communities before the elections.
“We don’t even know what will happen next week, but by the facts that we know now, we may have to prepare for IDP voting in nine local governments out of 17,” Egwu said.
The REC explained that although the displaced persons would vote from their locations, their votes would be recorded and counted under their original wards and constituencies.
He said the decision was also in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the Kampala Declaration on Internally Displaced Persons, which recognises the political and electoral rights of displaced citizens.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the Kampala Declaration on internally displaced persons, and that means we signed as a country to do everything possible for everybody, including people displaced from their original homes, to vote during election,” he stated.
Egwu urged political parties to assist INEC in identifying displaced supporters and providing information that could help the commission document eligible voters ahead of the exercise.
He acknowledged that organising elections for displaced persons would require additional resources but said the cost was necessary to protect their democratic rights.
“It will be costly, but we have to do it because it is part and parcel of the democracy struggle to ensure that those people are capable of voting on election day,” he said.
The commissioner expressed hope that security conditions would improve before the elections, allowing displaced residents to return to their communities.
“Our prayer is that maybe normalcy will return and people can return to their original abode. But should that not happen, they will have the chance to be able to vote,” he added.
Egwu said the stakeholder meeting was part of INEC’s continuing engagement with political parties and civil society organisations as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
He also announced that the final list of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections would be published on September 12, 2026, while the final list for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections would be released on October 10.
The REC disclosed that 121,821 new voters were registered in Plateau State during the latest Continuous Voter Registration exercise. Of this figure, 65,928 were female.
He added that 38,399 requests for transfer were recorded, while approximately 95,000 Permanent Voter Cards from previous registration exercises remained uncollected.
Egwu called on political parties and other political actors to maintain decorum during their campaigns and avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
