Major political parties are turning their attention to more than 3.7 million internally displaced Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections, as insecurity continues to raise concerns over their ability to participate in the polls.
The parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement and Social Democratic Party, have expressed plans to engage displaced Nigerians and ensure they are not disenfranchised.
The development comes as many Nigerians displaced by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges have been separated from the communities where they originally registered to vote.
According to March 2026 data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 3.7 million Nigerians are internally displaced, with insecurity identified as the major cause.
The ADC said it would take its campaign to IDP camps and mobilise displaced Nigerians ahead of the election.
The NDC, meanwhile, said it was discussing possible arrangements with the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society organisations to enable IDPs to vote.
The Allied Peoples Movement also said it would campaign in IDP camps and engage INEC on extending voter registration arrangements to prevent displaced Nigerians from being excluded.
Similarly, the Social Democratic Party said its presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, would intensify visits to IDP camps and communities while engaging INEC on measures to protect the voting rights of displaced and physically challenged Nigerians.
The PDP backed the possibility of extending the window for voters to transfer their polling units, particularly for IDPs.
However, some displaced Nigerians said voting was not currently their priority, insisting that their major concern was returning safely to their ancestral communities.
In Plateau State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Samuel Egwu, said INEC was making plans to establish voting centres for IDPs in nine local government areas.
The issue has therefore emerged as a major electoral challenge ahead of 2027, with political parties seeking the support of displaced voters while election authorities face the task of ensuring that insecurity does not prevent millions of Nigerians from exercising their franchise.
