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3,057,225 registered voters expected to participate
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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that a total of 592 candidates are contesting the 52 elective positions in Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The positions include the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats.
The commission has also stated that 3,057,225 registered voters are expected to participate in the elections across 5,102 polling units in the state.
The Benue State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Aminu Idris, disclosed this on Wednesday during an INEC stakeholders’ meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Makurdi.
In a breakdown of the candidates, Idris said 12 candidates were seeking the governorship seat, while 40 others were contesting the three senatorial seats in Benue North-East, Benue North-West and Benue South districts.
He also disclosed that Benue South recorded the highest number of senatorial candidates with 15, followed by Benue North-West with 13 and Benue North-East with 12.
For the House of Representatives, 118 candidates are contesting across the state’s 11 federal constituencies. Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency recorded the highest number, with 15 candidates, while Apa/Agatu and Oju/Obi constituencies have 12 candidates each.
According to him, Kwande/Ushongo has 11 candidates, while Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu, Buruku, Gboko/Tarka, Gwer East/West and Konshisha/Vandeikya have 10 candidates each.
Idris also said Guma/Makurdi and Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo constituencies recorded nine candidates each.
He said the State House of Assembly has the largest number of contestants, with 422 candidates seeking election into 37 constituencies.
Idris explained that the number of state constituencies increased from 32 to 37 following a court decision that restored five previously suppressed constituencies.
He urged political parties to begin preparations for the elections, scheduled for 16 January and 6 February 2027, while assuring stakeholders of the commission’s readiness to conduct the polls.
The REC further disclosed that the state’s 3,057,225 registered voters were distributed across 276 registration areas, commonly known as wards, and 5,102 polling units.
