A positive approach for the protection of the internally displaced persons’ right to participate in elections in Nigeria constitutional democracy

Abstract

The right to vote and be voted for is one of the many rights of any citizen of Nigeria as specifically provided for in the Nigeria constitution.  Generally displacement can be caused by natural or humanmade factors like armed conflict, internally displaced person  therefore, due to their forced displacement, are inherently vulnerable to deprivation, and other risks, such as lack of access to basic services, family separation, sexual and gender based violence, trafficking. The object of the article is to emphasise that the internal  displaced persons apart from the challenges mentioned above are equally faced with deprivation of their constitutional right to vote and  be voted for. It concluded that the internally displaced people are entitled to right of suffrage like every other citizen as guaranteed by  the constitution. And finally recommended that laws that seek to guarantee that Internal Displaced Persons, as citizens or habitual  residents of their country, enjoy equality and without discrimination the same rights and freedoms under international and national law  as do other persons in their country be implemented.