2027: INEC plans voting centres for IDPs in nine Plateau LGs
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it is making plans to establish 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 Plateau State, Prof. Samuel Egwu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with political party leaders and other stakeholders at the commission’s headquarters in Jos, the state capital.
Egwu said the proposed arrangement was in fulfilment of Nigeria’s obligations under the Kampala Declaration on Internally Displaced Persons, which guarantees displaced citizens the right to participate in elections.
He said INEC might have to make provisions for IDP voting in nine of the state’s 17 local government areas if the security situation prevented displaced residents from returning to their communities.
The affected local government areas are Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Mangu, Kanam, Kanke, Wase and Bokkos.
“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. This will happen in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Mangu, Kanam, Kanke, Wase and Bokkos,” he said.
The REC explained that where security challenges prevented displaced voters from returning to their communities, INEC would establish voting arrangements at their places of displacement.
He, however, clarified that votes cast by the displaced persons would still be counted as part of their original wards and constituencies.
“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,” Egwu said.
“Their votes will still be taken to be counted as part of their wards for their taking part in choosing their local leaders in 2027,” he added.
Egwu urged political parties to collaborate with INEC in identifying and tracking displaced persons to facilitate proper documentation for the proposed voting arrangement.
“We need to partner with you to identify and to promptly report where your supporters are likely to be displaced, so that we can document them for the purpose of IDP voting. 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 REC expressed optimism that peace would return to the affected communities before the elections, allowing displaced residents to return to their homes.
“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 said.
Egwu described the meeting as part of INEC’s ongoing engagement with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This is a very timely meeting, and there will be many more between now and the election. What we do as an election management body is to provide electoral information and to continue to update you as things change or don’t change,” he said.
“There is no way we can conduct Election in 2027 without talking first and foremost to political parties, because democracy is party politics,” he added.
He also explained that civil society organisations were invited because of their role in promoting democratic participation and advocacy on issues affecting citizens.
On other electoral timelines, Egwu said INEC would publish the final list of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections on September 12, 2026.
He added that the final list of candidates for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections would be published on October 10, 2026.
The REC further disclosed that 121,821 new voters were registered in Plateau State during the last Continuous Voter Registration exercise, with females accounting for 65,928 of the figure.
He said the commission also recorded 38,399 requests for transfer of voter registration and currently has about 95,000 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards from previous registration cycles.
Egwu urged political actors to conduct their campaigns with decorum and avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.