2027: INEC Plans Voting Centres for IDPs in Nine Plateau LGs

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is planning to establish voting centres for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in nine local government areas of Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau State, Professor Samuel Egwu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with political party leaders and other stakeholders at the commission’s headquarters in Jos.

Egwu said the proposed arrangement would ensure that citizens displaced by insecurity are not denied their constitutional right to participate in the elections.

The nine local government areas identified are Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Mangu, Kanam, Kanke, Wase and Bokkos.

According to the REC, INEC would establish voting arrangements at locations where displaced residents are staying if security conditions prevent them from returning to their original communities before election day.

He explained that votes cast by displaced persons would still be counted as part of their original wards and constituencies.

Egwu said the decision was consistent with Nigeria’s obligations under the Kampala Declaration on Internally Displaced Persons, which requires efforts to ensure displaced citizens can exercise their voting rights.

He urged political parties to work with INEC to identify displaced members and provide information that would help the commission document and plan for them ahead of the election.

The REC acknowledged that organising voting centres for displaced voters would involve additional costs but said the measure was necessary to protect their democratic rights.

He expressed hope that peace would return to the affected communities before the elections, allowing displaced residents to return home. However, he said INEC was preparing an alternative arrangement in case insecurity persisted.

The commission is also continuing preparations for the 2027 elections, including voter registration and stakeholder engagement.

Egwu disclosed that 121,821 new voters were registered in Plateau State during the latest Continuous Voter Registration exercise, with women accounting for 65,928 of the figure.

The state also recorded 38,399 voter transfer requests, while approximately 95,000 Permanent Voter Cards from previous registration exercises remain uncollected.

INEC is expected to continue consultations with political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.