The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that no fewer than 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 headquarters in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
According to him, the figure represents only fresh registrations recorded during the first and second phases of the exercise across the state.
He explained that 55,866 eligible voters were registered during the first phase, while the second phase recorded a much higher figure of 128,198 new registrations.
This, according to him, brought the total number of fresh registrants in the state 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.
The REC also announced that the third and final phase of the voter registration exercise officially began on May 11, 2026, and will end on July 10, 2026.
He urged all eligible residents who had attained the age of 18 and were yet to register to take advantage of the ongoing exercise before the closing date.
“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 stated.
The Continuous Voter Registration exercise is a nationwide programme organised by INEC to allow Nigerians who recently became eligible to vote to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The exercise also gives room for already registered voters to transfer their voting location, replace lost or damaged PVCs, and update personal information where necessary.
Nigeria has witnessed increasing participation of young voters in recent years, especially after the 2023 general election, where many youths actively took part in political campaigns, voter education and election monitoring.
According to Idris, young people between the ages of 18 and 34 formed the largest group among the newly registered voters in Benue State.
The development, he said, reflects growing interest among youths in the democratic process and governance.
Political analysts believe this trend could significantly influence future elections in the state and across the country because young voters make up a large percentage of Nigeria’s population.
Benue State has remained politically important in Nigeria because of its large voting population and strategic role in North-Central politics.
The state has also experienced strong political competition over the years between major political parties, especially during governorship, National Assembly and presidential elections.
As preparations continue ahead of future elections, INEC has repeatedly stressed the importance of voter participation and proper registration.
The electoral body has also continued to warn Nigerians against multiple registrations, describing it as an electoral offence punishable under the law.
Speaking during the briefing, Idris cautioned residents who had already registered not to attempt fresh registration again.
He warned that double registration could lead to the cancellation of voter records and possible sanctions by the commission.
“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.
INEC has in recent years introduced technology-driven systems aimed at improving the credibility of voter registration and reducing cases of duplicate entries in the voter database.
The commission now uses biometric capturing systems during registration to detect multiple registrations and verify voter identities.
Apart from discussing the voter registration exercise, the REC also spoke on efforts by the commission to restore some previously suppressed state constituencies in parts of Benue State following court judgments.
He disclosed that INEC had already begun technical work towards restoring the affected constituencies in Buruku, Gboko, Konshisha, Makurdi and Ukum Local Government Areas.
Suppressed constituencies are electoral areas that were previously affected by legal disputes, administrative adjustments or technical issues which limited full electoral activities in those locations.
According to Idris, the restoration process had been successfully completed in some areas, while challenges in parts of Gboko Local Government Area delayed the final stage of the exercise.
“In Gboko, we encountered issues in two registration areas, which delayed the conclusion of the exercise there,” he explained.
Although he did not give full details of the problems, the REC assured residents that the commission was working to resolve all outstanding issues as quickly as possible.
He further assured the people of the state that INEC would continue to carry out its duties with transparency, fairness and professionalism.
The commission, according to him, remains committed to ensuring that all eligible voters are properly captured in the voter register ahead of future elections.
Election observers say the success of voter registration exercises is important for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy because it gives citizens the opportunity to participate in choosing their leaders.
Civil society groups have also continued to encourage Nigerians, especially first-time voters and young people, to obtain their PVCs and take part in elections.
Over the years, low voter turnout has remained one of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral process despite the country’s large population.
Many stakeholders believe that increasing voter registration and participation will improve representation and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.
In Benue State, political activities have already started increasing ahead of future elections, with political parties expected to intensify mobilisation efforts across the state in the coming months.
Community leaders, youth groups and civil society organisations have also stepped up voter education campaigns to encourage more people to register before the deadline.
Some residents who spoke after the INEC briefing expressed satisfaction with the ongoing registration process but called on the commission to ensure that registration centres remain accessible, especially in rural communities.
Others appealed to INEC to improve logistics and reduce delays at some registration centres to make the process easier for citizens.
As the July 10 deadline approaches, attention is expected to remain on the ongoing exercise and the final number of registered voters that will emerge from Benue State.
For INEC, the commission says its focus remains on ensuring that every eligible Nigerian willing to vote is given the opportunity to register and participate fully in the country’s democratic process.