2027 polls: EU hails inclusion of IDPs

The European Union has endorsed initiatives to eliminate hurdles hindering Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from engaging in Nigeria's electoral proceedings before the 2027 general elections. Through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria program, the EU orchestrated a two-day stakeholder dialogue in Abuja on August 25-26, co-hosted by TAF Africa.

The meeting convened representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agencies, civil society bodies, and leaders of IDP populations. The summit aimed to refine INEC's framework for enabling IDPs to cast their votes and address impediments that prevent displaced Nigerians from exercising their voting rights.

As electoral preparations for 2027 pick up pace, INEC concluded its nationwide voter registration drive in July and initiated the vetting and verification of voter records ahead of the polls. At the gathering, Jennifer Dafwat, a Senior Communications Officer at TAF Africa, emphasized the meeting's aim to unite key stakeholders to devise actionable solutions to electoral exclusion.

She stressed that the forum provided an opportunity to devise strategies to enhance Nigeria's democratic inclusivity. Dafwat also highlighted that IDPs, many of whom have fled their homes due to insurgency, banditry, and other crises, often encounter difficulties accessing voter registration services, collecting their Permanent Voter Cards, or traveling to their registered locations.

John Gwamma, a chairman of an IDP camp in Borno State, underscored the security ramifications of mandating IDPs to return to their original communities to vote. He recounted how Boko Haram attacked travelers on the Bama Road during the 2023 election, posing significant risks to elderly IDPs who would struggle with lengthy journeys.

Yagana Abadam, the Acting Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, urged INEC to consider provisions allowing displaced residents to cast their ballots from their current locations. Lakunuya Bello, the Director of the Gender and Inclusivity Department at INEC, welcomed the dialogue, expressing optimism that the EU's support would bolster advocacy efforts for IDP participation.

The EU-backed engagement, occurring at a crucial juncture in Nigeria's electoral preparations, is anticipated to facilitate a collaborative roadmap encompassing voter education, advocacy, and practical measures to enhance electoral inclusion among displaced Nigerians.