The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that no fewer than 184064 new voters have been registered in Benue State during the first and second phases of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State, Aminu Idris, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing at the commission’s office in Makurdi on Thursday.
According to him, the first phase of the registration exercise recorded 55866 new voters, while the second phase added 128198 registrants. He explained that the figures covered only fresh registrations and did not include thousands of requests for transfer of voter registration, replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, and updates of voter information.
Mallam Idris also announced that the third and final phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise began on May 11, 2026, and is expected to end on July 10, 2026. He urged all eligible residents who have reached voting age but are yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity before the deadline.
The REC revealed that youths between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for the highest percentage of newly registered voters in the state. He, however, warned against double registration, stressing that anyone already captured in the voter register should not attempt to register again.
According to him, individuals found engaging in multiple registrations risk having their names completely removed from the voter register and could face additional sanctions.
INEC also disclosed that technical processes have commenced toward the restoration of suppressed state constituencies in Buruku, Gboko, Konshisha, Makurdi, and Ukum Local Government Areas following judicial directives. Idris explained that the process had been completed in most affected areas, although challenges in two wards delayed completion in Gboko Local Government Area.
He assured residents that the commission would continue to carry out its responsibilities with transparency, fairness, and professionalism. He also appealed to media organizations to support INEC by providing accurate and timely information to the public regarding electoral activities in the state.
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