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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has successfully restored five previously suppressed State Constituencies in Benue State, with four of them now fully cleared to participate in the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, Mallam Aminu Kasimu-Idris, disclosed this during a press briefing held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the INEC State Headquarters in Makurdi.
According to the REC, the restoration exercise covers constituencies in Buruku, Gboko, Konshisha, Makurdi, and Ukum Local Government Areas, in line with court judgments directing INEC to reinstate the suppressed constituencies.
Kasimu-Idris stated that the Commission has successfully concluded all technical processes in four of the five affected areas — Buruku, Konshisha, Makurdi, and Ukum — confirming that voters in these restored constituencies will appear on the ballot for the 2027 general elections.
He, however, noted setbacks in Gboko Local Government Area, particularly in Mbatyu and Gboko North-West Registration Areas and Council Wards, due to non-compliance by some affected communities. This, he said, made it impossible for the Commission to complete the restoration process in Gboko within the stipulated timeframe.
On the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the REC revealed that the first and second phases recorded a total of 184,064 new registrants across Benue State. The first phase accounted for 55,866 new voters, while the second phase recorded 128,198 registrations.
He further disclosed that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 made up the majority of the newly registered voters, highlighting growing youth participation in the electoral process.
The third and final phase of the CVR exercise commenced on May 11 and is expected to end on July 10, 2026.
The Benue REC also commended the media for their role in deepening democracy and assured that INEC remains committed to transparency, professionalism, and fairness in the discharge of its responsibilities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
