The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 592 candidates will contest 52 elective positions in Benue State during the 2027 general elections.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, announced the figures on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at INEC’s headquarters in Makurdi.
According to Idris, 12 candidates are contesting the governorship election, while 40 others are seeking the state’s three senatorial seats.
He said Benue South had 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 election, 118 candidates are contesting the state’s 11 federal constituencies.
The Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency has the highest number of contestants, with 15 candidates, while Apa/Agatu and Oju/Obi have 12 each.
Idris also disclosed that 422 candidates are seeking election into the Benue State House of Assembly, which now has 37 constituencies.
He explained that the number of constituencies increased from 32 to 37 following court judgments restoring five previously suppressed constituencies.
The REC further revealed that Benue has 3,057,225 registered voters across 276 wards and 5,102 polling units.
He urged political parties and other stakeholders to intensify preparations for the elections scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027.
Idris assured stakeholders of INEC’s readiness to conduct the elections.
