2019: IDPs in Niger, Chad who left their abodes due to insurgency in the North East would will be allowed to vote- INEC says

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it would make special provisions for IDPs outside Nigeria, particularly in Chad and Niger republic, to vote in 2019 general elections, Vanguard reports.

INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, disclosed this at a a stakeholders validation conference yesterday December 12th.

“IDPs in the neighbouring countries of Niger and Chad who left their abodes due to insurgency in the North East would not be denied their voting rights.”he said

The commission had before the 2015 general elections pushed for an amendment of the Electoral Act which gave rise to Section 26(1) of the 2015 Electoral Act (as amended). The section provides that; “In the event of an emergency affecting an election, the Commission shall, as far as possible, ensure that persons displaced as a result of the emergency are not disenfranchised”.