The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to make adequate arrangements to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) are not disenfranchised in the 2027 general elections.
Stakeholders appealed at a meeting organized by INEC in Zamfara State at the commission’s office in Gusau.
The meeting brought together representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, the media and groups representing persons with disabilities to discuss the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the meeting, the Zamfara State Resident Electoral Commissioner disclosed that the state recorded 313,115 registrations during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as of August 2026.
He said the figure represented approximately 16.04 per cent of the 1,952,060 registered voters recorded in the state during the 2023 general elections.
On the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the REC, Dr. Isah, said the exercise would continue at INEC offices across the state’s 14 local government areas after ward-level collection concluded on October 15, 2026.
However, a member of the Zamfara State Civil Society Organisations, Ibrahim Tudu, urged the commission to provide clear guidelines on how internally displaced persons living in host communities would participate in the forthcoming elections.
Tudu noted that some displaced persons were residing in Gusau, while others were scattered across different communities in the state.
He stressed the need for INEC to clarify how affected voters could exercise their franchise using their existing Permanent Voter Cards, despite having relocated from their original communities.
He said clear arrangements were necessary to prevent eligible voters displaced by insecurity from being excluded from the electoral process.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Zamfara State, Bilyaminu Umar, appealed to INEC to ensure that persons with disabilities were fairly represented in the recruitment of ad hoc election personnel.
Umar said inclusive recruitment would provide persons with disabilities with opportunities to contribute to the electoral process and participate more actively in the conduct of elections.
The meeting also featured questions, comments, and contributions from participants, with INEC officials providing responses and clarifications on issues relating to the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
