2027: Parties court IDPs as insecurity threatens voting

Major political parties have begun courting internally displaced persons ahead of the 2027 elections, Sunday PUNCH can report.

The parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement and Social Democratic Party, have outlined plans to reach displaced Nigerians, even as uncertainty persists over how IDPs will participate in the elections.

All the parties, in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, decried the displacement of voters and promised to ensure that they were not disenfranchised.

This comes amid concerns that prolonged insecurity has forced many Nigerians to flee their communities and areas where they initially registered to vote, leaving many displaced persons unsure of where they will cast their ballots in 2027.

3.7m Nigerians internally displaced

March 2026 data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate that over 3.7 million Nigerians are internally displaced, with insecurity identified as the primary cause.

The data showed that ongoing armed conflicts involving Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, recurrent farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central, and seasonal climate-induced flooding across various regions continue to force Nigerians from their homes.

According to a report by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, escalating violence and attacks in 2026 have continued to drive forced displacement, affecting millions of Nigerians and killing thousands.

“Four million forcibly displaced Nigerians live scattered across 3,900 settlements and in camps. Food security and malnutrition are widespread, with over 27 million people facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity and 6.4 million under-fives expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026 across Nigeria. In North-East Nigeria, 5.9 million people require humanitarian aid amidst a deteriorating security situation,” the report stated.

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre noted that an estimated 354,000 internal displacements associated with conflict and violence were recorded in Nigeria in 2025, representing a slight decrease from 2024 after three consecutive years of increases.

Data compiled by TheCable and the UN Refugee Agency showed that Nigeria’s internally displaced population rose by nearly 120 per cent between 2017 and 2026, from 1.70 million to 3.71 million.

The International Organisation for Migration noted that the escalation of violence between all parties in North-East Nigeria since 2014 had resulted in mass displacement and deprivation in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.

Mobilisation for IDP votes

Speaking with one of our correspondents on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would mobilise IDPs for votes.

He maintained that the ADC would take its campaigns to IDP camps to counter the All Progressives Congress, which he alleged might be planning to rig at the camps.

“We will show our presence in IDP camps. We will mobilise for votes there. We will remind the IDPs why they are in the camps and not their homes. We know the ruling party may be planning to rig in the camps. But we shall be there to counter them,” Abdullahi said.

Similarly, the NDC said it would engage with internally displaced persons and work with the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that they were able to participate in the 2027 elections.

The party disclosed that discussions were ongoing with INEC and civil society organisations on possible arrangements to enable IDPs to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party would give IDPs a sense of belonging.

He, however, said the NDC would conduct a threat assessment before reaching out to the IDPs.

“IDPs are everywhere, and there are people in need of support, particularly those who have been displaced by violence. We are still going to ensure that we visit them, give them a sense of belonging, encourage them and put smiles on their faces.

“We are considering engaging with INEC to see how it can ensure that these people participate in the election, either through a special registration arrangement or a voting arrangement for them. Just as people have advocated for diaspora voting, we also believe that internally displaced persons should have the right to exercise their constitutional right to vote in an election.

“We hope that the nation becomes better secured and that the fundamental principle and objective of protecting lives and property are upheld by the government. That is why we are asking the APC government to prioritise security, and we believe that it should deliver on the fundamental objective of protecting lives and property,” Director said.

The APM also said it would take its 2027 campaign to IDP camps across the country to recognise their plight and encourage displaced Nigerians to participate in the electoral process.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abubakar Yusuf, also disclosed that the APM was engaging INEC on the need to extend the continuous voter registration period to ensure that IDPs and other Nigerians were not disenfranchised.

“The party, APM, and its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, will take our campaigns to the IDP camps as a sign of recognition and also in respect of their plight, to enable them to exercise their franchise. We shall ensure they get the reset message,” he said.

According to him, the APM believes that every Nigerian, regardless of their circumstances or location, deserves the opportunity to participate fully in the democratic process and contribute to shaping the future of the country.

Also, the SDP presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, who responded through his Chief Communications Adviser, Mark Adebayo, said he would intensify visits to IDP camps and communities across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.

He pledged that no community would be neglected, promising to embark on a nationwide “thank you” tour if elected president.

Adebayo said the SDP was engaging INEC to ensure that displaced and physically challenged voters were not marginalised in the 2027 elections.

“Even before the electioneering campaigns started, he has visited several IDP camps, especially in the North, both to solidarise with them and support them tangibly. He will escalate that in the weeks and days ahead. No community will be left untouched during and after the campaigns and thereafter. He will do a thank-you visit around the country immediately after he wins the election as president, even before being sworn in. He is a people’s man. Adewole Adebayo loves the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP backed a possible extension of the window for voters to transfer their polling units, specifically for IDPs, to prevent them from being disenfranchised.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said IDPs should have used the window opened by INEC to transfer their voting locations and Permanent Voter Cards to polling units closer to their camps.

“However, if there is a need, or if INEC can still extend the window, particularly for IDPs, so that they do not get disenfranchised because of their circumstances, I think I will support that move. But INEC should not be blamed if these people have not gone to vote, because INEC had provided the window,” he said.

Efforts by our correspondent to obtain a reaction from the All Progressives Congress were unsuccessful, as the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, did not respond to calls and messages seeking his comments as of the time of this report.

Going back home our priority, not voting — Niger IDPs

Meanwhile, internally displaced persons in Niger State have said returning to their ancestral homes remains their priority, rather than participating in the 2027 general elections.

The IDPs, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, said they had spent years in camps after bandits drove them from their communities, farms and livelihoods.

Our correspondent learnt that there are several IDP camps in Niger State, particularly in Shiroro Local Government Area, including the Gwada, Erina and Zomba camps.

The population of the camps, estimated at over 5,000, continues to rise as terrorists displace more people from their homes.

Some of the IDPs said they had spent over four years in the camps, while the state government continued to promise to return them to their ancestral lands.

A pastor, Livinus Danjuma, who has been visiting the Gwada IDP camp for three years as a missionary, said the population of the camp continued to rise as more people from communities attacked by terrorists moved there.

Danjuma, a pastor with the Mountain of Fire Ministry, said life in the camp remained difficult, with residents struggling to meet their basic needs.

Speaking with our correspondent, he said, “I can tell you that life in the IDP camps is not easy, but God is helping us. The people here are just managing to survive. They manage virtually everything. Food and toileting are a major challenge for them.

“I am not sure that the residents in this IDP camp will be interested in participating in the 2027 general elections. Their major challenge is for the government to flush out the bandits from their ancestral lands and safely return them so that they can resume their normal life.”

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An IDP, Aisha Abdullahi, said she abandoned her education at JSS 2 after bandits invaded her home in Allawa Local Government Area and chased everyone away.

She said she lost five relatives, including her siblings, in the attack.

Abdullahi said she was not concerned about the 2027 elections, adding that her priority was for the government to return them to their homes.

She said, “I have been in the Gwada IDP camp for the past three years and life has stopped for me. Today, they want us to register so that we can vote in the 2027 general elections. That is not possible.

“They abandoned us all these years. Our welfare did not matter to them. Now it has come to election and they want us to vote. I want you to tell them that voting is not our priority. We want to go back to our homes, our land and continue our lives.

“How are we going to vote when we are not a part of society? Let them first return us to our ancestral homes, drive those terrorists from our land and collect back our farms from them. It is after then that we can comfortably say we are part of society.”

Another IDP, Mubarak Suleiman, said he had just completed his apprenticeship as a carpenter when bandits drove him and others from their ancestral land, forcing him to abandon the vocation.

“Since then, I have been in this IDP camp with nothing to do. The government no longer cares about us. Now, they want us to vote in 2027. So we are going to remain here till 2027. Anyway, I am not going to vote. Go and tell them. We want them to return us to our homes so that our lives can return to normal. This one is not life,” he said.

Commenting on the IDPs’ concerns, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, said the state would ensure that no IDP was disenfranchised.

“The state will work with INEC to make sure no IDP is disenfranchised in the forthcoming general election, as it is the usual practice to work with the relevant election institution,” he said in a message to one of our correspondents.

Also, the spokesperson for INEC in the state, Shafiu Isa, said the commission would ensure that the IDPs were not left out of the exercise.

“The commission is working seriously on the issue. As soon as we are ready, I will let you in on it,” he said.

Plateau IDPs face disenfranchisement

Meanwhile, Sunday PUNCH gathered that over 50,000 IDPs are scattered across several communities in Plateau State as a result of repeated attacks and killings by gunmen over more than two decades.

The Berom Youths Moulders Association, which has been tracking the plight of displaced persons, said the IDPs were spread across Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Bokkos and Bassa local government areas, among others.

The spokesman for the association, Rwang Tengwong, while speaking with one of our correspondents on Saturday, said, “As it is, we have over 50,000 people who have been displaced. We have so many displaced communities such as Fass, Mahanga, Mafe, and many others in Gashish District.”

A cross-section of the IDPs, in separate interviews with our correspondent, said they were already displaced before the last CVR and could not participate in the exercise.

Most of them also said they did not know where they would vote in next year’s election.

“I could not register in Fass community because of the persistent attacks and insecurity in the area,” an IDP, Gyang Ishaya, stated.

Another IDP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “As it is now, I don’t even know where to vote because Mangu is not where I registered, but I cannot go back to my community where I registered because of insecurity.”

However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau State, Prof Samuel Egwu, said INEC was aware of the challenge and was making plans to establish voting centres for internally displaced persons in nine local government areas.

According to him, the move was in fulfilment of Nigeria’s obligation under the Kampala Declaration on Internally Displaced Persons, which guarantees the right of displaced citizens to participate in elections.

“We don’t even know what will happen next week, but based on 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 prevent voters from returning to their communities, INEC would set up voting arrangements in their places of displacement.

He, however, noted that such votes would still be computed as part of their original wards and constituencies.

219,477 displaced in Benue

Sunday PUNCH gathered from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency that at least 219,477 internally displaced persons are living in different camps and host communities.

It was gathered that those living in host communities are mostly in the Benue South Senatorial District, known as Zone C, which comprises Idoma and Igede.

In this category, no fewer than 81 host communities are officially recognised by the state Emergency Management Agency.

The second category comprises IDP camps, housing people displaced from their ancestral homes due to repeated killings in the state. There are 21 such camps.

One of the IDPs, Ibaah Terna, who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone interview on Saturday, said he registered at an IDP camp in Agagbe, Gwer West Local Government Area of the state.

He revealed that the IDPs living in Agagbe community came from seven council wards.

Terna added that residents of three council wards exercise their franchise in Agagbe, while others are transported to Naka to exercise their franchise.

The IDP, who is also a House of Assembly candidate on the platform of the NDC, said, “In the 2023 election, for those of us whose polling units were taken to Naka, wealthy politicians arranged transportation to convey voters to vote for them and transport them back.

“In a situation where the voter failed to vote for the party of the politician responsible for his transportation, such a person would look for how he would return to the camp.”

When asked how the politician would know if the IDP transported had voted for him, Terna said the party agent would help displaced persons to thumbprint the ballot paper.

However, efforts to get the Public Relations Officer for INEC in the state, Peace Oghohi, were unsuccessful, as her phone was switched off.

Borno IDPs in dilemma

Sunday PUNCH learnt that all formal IDP camps in Borno State have been shut down, with only a few informal ones still accommodating families displaced by conflict.

The popular informal IDP camps still existing include Shuwari, Wulari and Bakkasi, among other smaller makeshift camps in communities surrounding Maiduguri, the state capital.

Speaking with one of our correspondents, an IDP, Joseph Mi-anbiyu, said most of the displaced persons at the Shuwari camp would not participate in the election.

“For someone like me, displaced from Gwoza side, I don’t even have interest in the election for now. All I am after is how to return to my community and settle down.”

When asked if he was in possession of his voter card, he said, “I lost it during those periods we were searching for safety.”

Another resident, Aminu Ishaku, said the government had made provision for displaced families to vote.

“There are people who were displaced over eight years ago. But between that time and now, they have been able to sort themselves and shift their polling unit to town. This was facilitated by the government.”