2027 Elections: Political Parties Reach Out to Displaced Persons Amid Security Issues

Major political parties are reaching out to internally displaced persons (IDPs) as the 2027 elections approach, Sunday PUNCH reports.
The parties include the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, and Social Democratic Party. They have shared plans to connect with displaced Nigerians, even as questions remain about how IDPs will vote.
In separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, all the parties expressed their concerns about the displacement of voters. They promised to ensure that IDPs are not left out of the electoral process.
This comes as many Nigerians have fled their homes due to ongoing insecurity, leaving many unsure of where they will vote in 2027.
3.7m Nigerians internally displaced
As of March 2026, data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees shows that over 3.7 million Nigerians are internally displaced. Insecurity is the main cause of this situation.
The data reveals that armed conflicts with Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East, banditry and kidnappings in the North-West, farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central, and seasonal flooding are forcing many Nigerians to leave their homes.
A report by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations states that rising violence in 2026 has led to forced displacement for millions of Nigerians and has resulted in thousands of deaths.
“Four million forcibly displaced Nigerians live scattered across 3,900 settlements and camps. Food security and malnutrition are widespread, with over 27 million people facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Also, 6.4 million under-fives are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026 across Nigeria. In North-East Nigeria, 5.9 million people need humanitarian aid due to worsening security,” the report stated.
The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre noted that around 354,000 internal displacements linked to conflict and violence were recorded in Nigeria in 2025. This shows a slight decrease from 2024 after three years of increases.
Data from TheCable and the UN Refugee Agency indicate that Nigeria’s internally displaced population grew by nearly 120 percent from 1.70 million in 2017 to 3.71 million in 2026.
The International Organisation for Migration noted that ongoing violence in North-East Nigeria since 2014 has caused mass displacement and suffering in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states.
Mobilisation for IDP votes
On Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, spoke with one of our correspondents. He said the ADC plans to mobilise IDPs for votes.
He stated that the ADC would campaign in IDP camps to counter the All Progressives Congress, which he accused of planning to rig votes 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.
The NDC also stated it would engage with IDPs and work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure they can vote in the 2027 elections.
The party added that talks are ongoing with INEC and civil society groups to create ways for IDPs to exercise their voting rights.
Osa Director, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, told Sunday PUNCH that the party aims to give IDPs a sense of belonging.
He mentioned that the NDC would conduct a threat assessment before reaching out to the IDPs.
“IDPs are everywhere, and there are people in need of support, especially those displaced by violence. We will visit them, give them a sense of belonging, encourage them, and bring smiles to their faces.
“We are considering working with INEC to ensure these people can vote, either through special registration or voting arrangements. Just as people have called for diaspora voting, we believe IDPs should also have the right to vote in elections.
“We hope for better security and that the government will uphold the principle of protecting lives and property. That is why we ask the APC government to prioritise security and deliver on its duty to protect lives and property,” Director said.
The APM also said it would campaign in IDP camps across the country in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
Abubakar Yusuf, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, said APM is working with INEC to extend the voter registration period. This is to make sure IDPs and other Nigerians are not disenfranchised.
“The party, APM, and its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, will take our campaigns to the IDP camps. This is to show recognition and respect for their situation and enable them to vote. We will ensure they get the reset message,” he said.
According to him, the APM believes every Nigerian, no matter their situation, deserves the chance to participate fully in democracy.
SDP presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, through his Chief Communications Adviser, Mark Adebayo, said he would increase visits to IDP camps ahead of the 2027 elections.
He promised that no community would be ignored and would embark on a nationwide “thank you” tour if elected president.
Adebayo stated that the SDP is talking with INEC to ensure that displaced and physically challenged voters are not neglected in the 2027 elections.
“Before the election campaigns began, he visited several IDP camps, especially in the North, to show solidarity and offer support. He will increase this in the coming weeks. No community will be left out during and after the campaigns. He will do a thank-you visit around the country immediately after he wins the election, even before being sworn in. He is a people’s man. Adewole Adebayo loves the people,” he said.
The PDP also supported the idea of extending the period for voters to change their polling units, especially for IDPs, to prevent disenfranchisement.
Jungudo Mohammed, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, said IDPs should have used the window opened by INEC to change their voting locations and Permanent Voter Cards to polling units closer to the camps.
“However, if there is a need, or if INEC can still extend the window for IDPs, so they do not get disenfranchised due to their situation, I support that move. But INEC should not be blamed if these people have not gone to vote because INEC provided the window,” he said.
Our correspondent tried to get a response from the All Progressives Congress. But the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, did not respond to calls and messages seeking comments by the time of this report.
Going back home our priority, not voting, Niger IDPs
Internally displaced persons in Niger State have said that returning to their homes is more important than voting in the 2027 elections.
The IDPs told Sunday PUNCH on Saturday that they have been in camps for years after bandits drove them from their communities and livelihoods.
There are several IDP camps in Niger State, especially in Shiroro Local Government Area. These camps include Gwada, Erina, and Zomba.
The camp population is estimated at over 5,000 and continues to grow as terrorists displace more people.
Some IDPs mentioned they have been in the camps for over four years, while the state government has promised to return them to their ancestral lands.
Pastor Livinus Danjuma has been visiting the Gwada IDP camp for three years. He said the camp’s population keeps increasing as more people from attacked communities arrive.
Danjuma, a pastor with the Mountain of Fire Ministry, said life in the camp is tough, and residents struggle to meet basic needs.
He said, “Life in the IDP camps is not easy, but God is helping us. The people here are just managing to survive. They manage everything. Food and toilet facilities are major challenges.
“I am not sure that residents in this IDP camp will care about participating in the 2027 elections. Their main concern is for the government to remove bandits from their ancestral lands and return them safely so they can live normal lives again.”
IDP Aisha Abdullahi said she had to stop her education at JSS 2 when bandits attacked her home in Allawa Local Government Area and chased everyone away.
She lost five relatives, including her siblings, in the attack.
Abdullahi said she is not interested in the 2027 elections. Her priority is for the government to return them to their homes.
She stated, “I have been in the Gwada IDP camp for three years. Life has stopped for me. Now they want us to register to vote in the 2027 elections. That is not possible.
“They have abandoned us all these years. Our welfare did not matter. Now that it is election time, they want us to vote. Tell them that voting is not our priority. We want to go back to our homes and continue our lives.
“How can we vote when we are not part of society? Let them first return us to our ancestral homes, remove those terrorists from our land, and return our farms to us. Only then can we say we are part of society.”
Another IDP, Mubarak Suleiman, said he had just finished his carpentry apprenticeship when bandits forced him from his home, making him abandon the trade.
“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. We will still be here then. I am not going to vote. Go and tell them. We want to return to our homes so our lives can be normal again. This is not life,” he said.
Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, said the state will ensure no IDP is disenfranchised.
“The state will work with INEC to ensure no IDP is left out in the upcoming elections, as it is usual to collaborate with the relevant election body,” he said in a message to one of our correspondents.
INEC’s spokesperson in the state, Shafiu Isa, said the commission will ensure that IDPs are included in the voting process.
“The commission is working hard on this. I will update you as soon as we are ready,” he said.
Plateau IDPs face disenfranchisement
Meanwhile, Sunday PUNCH learned that over 50,000 IDPs are spread across various communities in Plateau State due to repeated attacks over more than two decades.
The Berom Youths Moulders Association, which is monitoring the plight of displaced persons, reported that IDPs are found in Jos South, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, Bokkos, and Bassa local government areas.
Rwang Tengwong, the spokesman for the association, said, “We have over 50,000 displaced people. There are many displaced communities such as Fass, Mahanga, Mafe, and others in Gashish District.”
Several IDPs, in separate interviews, said they were already displaced before the last Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and could not participate.
Most of them also expressed uncertainty about where they would vote in the upcoming elections.
“I could not register in Fass community due to ongoing attacks and insecurity,” said one IDP, Gyang Ishaya.
Another IDP, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “Right now, I don’t even know where to vote because Mangu is not where I registered, but I cannot return to my registered community because of insecurity.”
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Plateau State, Prof Samuel Egwu, said INEC is aware of the challenges and is planning to set up voting centres for IDPs in nine local government areas.
He stated that this is part of Nigeria’s commitment under the Kampala Declaration on Internally Displaced Persons, which ensures displaced citizens can vote.
“We don’t know what will happen next week, but based on what we know now, we may need 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 added that if security issues stop voters from going back to their communities, INEC will make voting arrangements where they are currently located.
However, he noted that these votes will still count as part of their original wards and constituencies.