592 candidates eye 52 elective seats in Benue — INEC

No fewer than 592 candidates are seeking 52 elective positions in Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Aminu Idris, revealed the figures on Wednesday at an INEC stakeholders’ meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Makurdi.

According to Idris, 12 candidates are contesting the governorship seat, while 40 are seeking the three senatorial positions across Benue North-East, Benue North-West and Benue South districts.

Benue South has 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, INEC recorded 118 candidates contesting across the state’s 11 federal constituencies.

Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency has the highest number, with 15 candidates, followed by Apa/Agatu and Oju/Obi constituencies, with 12 candidates each.

Kwande/Ushongo has 11 candidates, while Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu, Buruku, Gboko/Tarka, Gwer East/West and Konshisha/Vandeikya have 10 candidates each.

Guma/Makurdi and Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo constituencies have nine candidates each.

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Idris added that 422 candidates are contesting for 37 constituencies in the Benue State House of Assembly.

He attributed the increase in the number of state constituencies from 32 to 37 to a court decision restoring five previously suppressed constituencies.

The REC urged political parties to intensify preparations for the elections scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027, assuring stakeholders that INEC was prepared to conduct the polls.

He further disclosed that Benue has 3,057,225 registered voters across 276 registration areas, comprising wards, with elections expected to take place in 5,102 polling units across the state.