In view of the growing concern over the potential disenfranchisement of millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), TAF Africa, and other stakeholders have renewed calls for the full inclusion of the IDPs ahead of the 2027 poll.

TAF Africa estimates that over 4.6 million Nigerians are displaced across Adamawa, Benue, Borno, and Kaduna states, with about 2.4 million potentially eligible to vote at age 18 and above, underscoring the scale of the electoral inclusion challenge ahead of the 2027 polls.

Raising the concern yesterday in Abuja, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Amb. Jake Epelle, argued that the displacement caused by conflict, insurgency, flooding and other humanitarian emergencies should not deprive citizens of their constitutional right to vote.

Epelle noted that many displaced Nigerians still face practical barriers, including voter registration, transfer of polling units, collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), access to voter education and participation on election day.

“At TAF Africa, we believe that the credibility of an election must also be measured by who can participate,” he said at a stakeholder engagement on the implementation of INEC’s framework for the electoral participation of IDPs.

He further urged INEC, the national and state emergency management agencies, camp managers, humanitarian organisations, civil society groups and displaced communities to develop a practical roadmap with clear responsibilities and timelines ahead of 2027.

According to Epelle, the ultimate test ahead of 2027 would be whether an eligible but displaced Nigerian could register, obtain or transfer the necessary electoral credentials, access credible information, reach a polling location and vote safely and with dignity, stressing that “displacement may change where a citizen lives. It must never determine whether that citizen has a voice.”

However, the INEC National Chairman, Prof. JoashAmupitan, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring that displacement does not become a barrier to voting.

Amupitan, represented by a Director in the Commission’s Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Dorothy Bello, said the right to vote is a fundamental constitutional entitlement.

However, he said the success of INEC’s Framework for Voting by IDPs would depend on sustained collaboration, voter education and accessible voting arrangements in camps and host communities.

This comes as the Programme Manager for IDPs at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, MrZegehGauis, disclosed that the state has about 500,000 IDPs, stressing that a credible election could not be achieved without their participation.

Stating that many displaced persons had lost their voter cards during violent conflicts, he called for early deployment of voter registration and PVC collection teams.

Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the Director-General of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Bilkisi Abdullahi, said insecurity was a major challenge to electoral participation.

Also, the Borno SEMA noted that the state equally faces a huge task ahead of 2027, with IDPs and refugees spread across Maiduguri, Banki and Baga, and many displaced persons returning to their communities.