2027: INEC plans IDP voting centres in 9 Plateau LGs

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it 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 (REC) in Plateau State, Prof. Samuel Egwu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with leaders of political parties and other stakeholders at the commission’s headquarters in Jos.

Nine LGs identified for possible IDP voting

Egwu said the initiative was in line with Nigeria’s obligations under the Kampala Declaration on Internally Displaced Persons, which guarantees displaced citizens the right to participate in elections.

He explained that the commission was preparing for the possibility that some displaced persons might be unable to return to their communities before the elections.

According to him, the nine 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,” he said.

Egwu explained that where security challenges prevent displaced voters from returning to their communities, INEC would establish voting arrangements at their places of displacement.

He, however, stressed that votes cast by IDPs would be collated and counted as part of their original wards and constituencies.

IDP votes to count in original wards

Egwu said Nigeria’s commitment to the Kampala Declaration required the country to make efforts to ensure that displaced citizens were not denied their right to vote.

“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 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.

The REC urged political parties to collaborate with INEC to identify and track displaced persons to facilitate proper documentation ahead of the elections.

He said political parties should promptly report areas where their supporters were likely to be displaced so the commission could document them for the proposed IDP voting arrangements.

“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,” he said.

121,821 new voters registered

Egwu disclosed that 121,821 new voters were registered in Plateau State during the latest Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

He said women accounted for 65,928 of the newly registered voters.

The commission also recorded 38,399 requests for voter transfers, while about 95,000 Permanent Voter Cards from previous registration cycles remained uncollected in the state.

Egwu acknowledged that establishing voting arrangements for IDPs would be costly but said it 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.

INEC hopeful of return of displaced persons

The REC expressed optimism that peace would return to the affected communities before the 2027 elections, allowing displaced persons to return to their ancestral 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 stakeholder meeting as part of INEC’s ongoing engagement with political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders ahead of the elections.

He said the meeting was taking place 129 days before the 2027 elections, adding that more engagements would be held before election day.

“This is a very timely meeting, and there will be many more between now and the election,” he said.

“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 added.

INEC gives dates for final candidate lists

Egwu said sustained engagement with political parties was essential to the successful conduct of the 2027 elections.

“There is no way we can conduct election in 2027 without talking first and foremost to political parties, because democracy is party politics,” he said.

He also described civil society organisations as “our natural allies” in strengthening democracy.

According to him, civil society organisations represent citizens and advocate for measures capable of improving democracy.

On the electoral timetable, 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.

INEC warns against electoral violence

The REC urged political actors to conduct their campaigns with decorum and warned against actions capable of undermining the credibility and peaceful conduct of the electoral process.

He said continued cooperation among INEC, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders would be crucial to ensuring a credible and peaceful 2027 general election.