The Independent National Electoral Commission has concluded the process for the restoration of suppressed State constituencies in four of the five affected local government areas in Benue State.
The new Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Aminu Kasimu Idris, announced this on Thursday during a Press briefing at the INEC headquarters in Makurdi.
Idris said the technical processes for restoring constituencies in Buruku, Konshisha, Makurdi, and Ukum LGAs had been completed in line with judicial pronouncements, except in Gboko, where the commission met resistance from community members.
The exercise, according to him, is aimed at ensuring effective representation and strengthening democratic participation in the affected communities. “However, in Gboko, we encountered some challenges in two specific Registration Areas/wards, which made it difficult for the exercise to be concluded in this particular local government,” Idris said.
The REC explained that the commission was only acting on the pronouncement of the court insisting that if members of the community were not comfortable with the judgement, they could approach the court.
He warned that stopping the commission from carrying out the technical process might affect the conduct of elections in the constituencies.
The REC used the briefing to formally introduced himself to the people of Benue State following his assumption of office and described the media as a critical partner in the democratic process. He therefore urged journalists to help disseminate accurate information on electoral activities.
Idris disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise had entered its third and final phase, which began on May 11 and will run until July 10, 2026.
“The phase provides an opportunity for eligible citizens who have attained voting age to register, as well as for voters to transfer their registration, replace lost or damaged voter cards, and update their records”, he stated.
According to him, those already registered and captured in the voters’ register need not register again, warning that multiple registration could lead to the removal of names from the register or other sanctions.
According to INEC, the first and second phases of the CVR exercise recorded 184,064 new registrants. The first phase accounted for 55,866 registrants, while the second phase recorded 128,198. Youths aged 18 to 34 make up the majority of the new registrants. The commission said cases of transfer, replacement, and updates were also recorded in the thousands.
Idris called on all eligible residents of Benue State to take advantage of the ongoing exercise before the July 10 deadline, and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting its activities with transparency, professionalism, and fairness.
“As I assume duty in Benue State, I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders, including the media, political actors, civil society organizations, and the electorate, in strengthening our democratic institutions,” he said.
Mallam Aminu Kasimu Idris assumed office in April, 2026 as the 22nd Resident Electoral Commissioner.
