Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, at the weekend, advocated for the inclusion of internally displaced persons in the voting process, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He called on the National Assembly and INEC to seriously consider the internally displaced persons in the 2015 elections.

The former governor of Adamawa State explained in Abuja that the call became necessary following the large number of Nigerians displaced in various parts of the country due to insecurity and natural disasters.

Michika Local Government Area, Adamawa State, where Haruna hails from, has been under occupation by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, with most of the people in council area seeking safety in neighbouring local government areas.

Michika was razed down by the insurgents, including Haruna’s family residence in Kuborshosho.

But the former governor held that internally displaced persons, whether on account of insurgency or natural disaster like flood and any other circumstance, should not be a basis for eligible voters to be disenfranchised and denied the opportunity to exercise their civic duty.

He stressed that provision should be made in the nation’s Electoral Act for displaced persons to cast their votes and for their votes to count for any party or any candidate they decide to choose.