INEC Sets Benue Election Dates, Reports 592 Candidates

Benue’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, has announced that 592 candidates will contest 52 state governorship and legislative seats in the 2027 elections, with 3,057,225 registered voters listed across 5,102 polling units. He also outlined the election dates and preparations at a stakeholders meeting in Makurdi on October 28. Idris said presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, followed by governorship and State House of Assembly elections on February 6. He reported that 18 political parties had submitted candidates for the presidential race and 12 for the governorship election. The 592 candidates comprise 12 governorship hopefuls, 40 candidates for three Senate seats, 118 candidates for 11 House of Representatives seats and 422 candidates for 37 State House of Assembly seats. The Otukpo-Ohimini Federal Constituency has the largest field for a House seat, with 15 candidates, Idris said. He added that 18 of Nigeria’s 22 registered parties submitted presidential nominations, while 21 fielded candidates for governorship and legislative contests. The State Assembly total rose from 32 constituencies to 37 after court judgments...