The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says a total of 184,064 new voters have been registered in Benue State during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mallam Aminu Idris, disclosed this on Thursday during his first press briefing held at the INEC state office in Makurdi.
According to him, the figure covers only fresh registrations recorded in the first and second phases of the exercise.
He explained that 55,866 new voters were registered in the first phase, while the second phase recorded 128,198 registrations, 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 exercise began on May 11, 2026, and will close on July 10, 2026, urging eligible residents who are yet to register 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 young people, especially those between 18 and 34 years, made up the highest number of new registrants in the state.
He also warned against double registration, stressing 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 towards restoring 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.
INEC registers 184,064 new voters in Benue