BEVERLY HILLS, November 09, (THEWILL) – The member representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, Sunday, advocated for the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North East to vote during the forthcoming general elections.
He maintained the need for an amendment of the Electoral Act to enable the IDPs exercise their civic rights, saying failure to do this may disenfranchise over a million persons in the troubled states in Northeast.
Ndume, who is standing trial over his alleged ties to the terrorist group Boko Haram, promised to sponsor a bill on this when the Senate resumes plenary, suggested the creation of special polling units at the IDP camps for the displaced persons to vote, maintaining that this is the only way to give the elections credibility.
Ndume, gave the suggestions in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, while speaking with journalists , insisting on the need to change the law to accommodate the displaced persons to vote at their new locations.
Ndume, who argued that if Nigerians in the Diaspora are being considered an allowance during the election, “what stops those that have been displaced by the prevailing insurgency in the Northeast from been given the same allowance.”
The senator also raised fresh alarm over the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who have taken over Gwoza, his home town, maintained that the terrorists may soon overrun the entire North East if nothing is done urgently.
“The major problem of this country is not the 2015 general election that everybody is talking about everywhere but the security of the nation. I am always amazed when I hear people talking about election in 2015 not the condition or situation the internally displaced persons are in presently in Borno and other states of the North east.
“Nobody is talking and showing much concern about it. This is the reason why I am mobilising some of my colleagues to support the motion for the amendment of the electoral act to allow IDPs like me and others who are displaced and are now in Maiduguri, Yola, and other places to cast our votes wherever we are.
“For example in Maiduguri today, we have over 17,000 Gwoza people that are internally displaced and only 7,000 are already in Maiduguri at different camps and with their relations while about 10,000 are presently being relocated and conveyed to Maiduguri from other places. And this is apart from those from Damboa and other local government areas that Boko Haram has annexed,” he said.
