INEC registers 184,064 new voters in Benue State

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that 184,064 new voters have been registered in Benue State as part of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Resident Electoral Commissioner Mallam Aminu Idris revealed the figure during his first press briefing on Thursday at the INEC state office in Makurdi.

Idris clarified that the number reflects only fresh registrations recorded in the first and second phases of the exercise.

Specifically, 55,866 voters were added in the first phase, while 128,198 were added in the second phase, bringing the total to 184,064.

"The figure represents only new registrations. We also have thousands of cases involving transfer of registration, replacement of lost or damaged PVCs, and updates of voter details," Idris said.

He added that the third and final phase of the CVR began on 11 May 2026 and will close on 10 July 2026, urging eligible residents who have not yet registered to take advantage of the opportunity.

"The exercise is still ongoing, and we encourage all eligible citizens who have turned 18 but are not yet registered to do so before the deadline," he said.

The REC noted that the largest group of new registrants in the state were young people aged 18 to 34.

He also warned against double registration, stating that offenders risk sanctions.

"Those who have already registered should not attempt to register again. Doing so may lead to cancellation of their records or other penalties," he warned.

Idris further disclosed that INEC has begun technical work to restore suppressed state constituencies in parts of the state, including Buruku, Gboko, Konshisha, Makurdi, and Ukum local government areas, following court decisions.

He said the process has been completed in some areas, but challenges in two registration areas in Gboko LGA have slowed final completion.

"In Gboko, we encountered issues in two registration areas, which delayed the conclusion of the exercise there," he explained.

The REC assured residents that INEC will continue to operate with transparency, fairness and professionalism.