The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a total of 184,064 new voters have been successfully registered in Benue State under the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mallam Aminu Idris, made this known on Thursday during his first press briefing held at the INEC office in Makurdi.
He explained that the figure covers only fresh registrations carried out in the first and second phases of the exercise.
According to him, 55,866 people registered during the first phase, while 128,198 were added in the second phase, bringing the total number of new voters to 184,064.
Idris also clarified that the total does not include other services carried out by INEC, such as voter transfers, replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and updates of personal details.
He further announced that the third and final phase of the CVR exercise began on May 11, 2026, and is scheduled to end on July 10, 2026. He urged eligible citizens who are yet to register to take advantage of the remaining window.
He encouraged residents who have turned 18 years and above but are not yet registered to complete their registration before the deadline.
The REC noted that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 make up the largest percentage of new registrants in the state.
He also cautioned against multiple registration, warning that anyone caught attempting to register more than once risks penalties, including cancellation of their voter records.
Idris disclosed that INEC has also started technical work to restore previously affected state constituencies in parts of the state, including Buruku, Gboko, Konshisha, Makurdi, and Ukum local government areas, following court rulings.
He said while progress has been made in several areas, challenges in two registration zones within Gboko Local Government Area have slowed completion of the process.
Despite the delays, the REC assured residents that INEC remains committed to conducting the exercise in a transparent, fair, and professional manner across Benue State.