Apa, Benue

Not to be confused with Apa, Lagos.

Apa, Nigeria
LGA
Interactive map of Apa, Nigeria
Coordinates: 7°37′47″N7°52′16″E / 7.62972°N 7.87111°E / 7.62972; 7.87111
Country	Nigeria
State	Benue State
Local Government Headquarters	Ugbokpo
Government
• Local Government Chairman and the Head of the Local Government Council	Danjuma Solomon [1]
Population  (2022) [2]
• Total	175,000
	NBS
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Postal Code	972107
Religion	Christian 96%, Traditionalists, 2.4% Islam 1.6%

Apa ^[3] is a local government area in Benue State, Nigeria. It was first created on 23 March 1981. It became defunct on 31 December 1983, and was later re-created in August, 1991. The local government is located in the northwestern part of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. It is bounded to the North by Agatu local government, to the East by Gwer West, to the South by Otukpo and to West by Omala local government area of Kogi State.

It has population of about 175,000 people with a population density of about 339 persons per km². The inhabitants of the local government are predominantly Idoma and a few Igalas and other settlers.

The local government has 11 council wards namely, Ugbokpo, Edikwu I, Ikobi, Ojantelle/Akpete, Oba, Iga, Oiji, Ojope, Igoro, Edikwu II and Auke.

Pepper section of Ugbokpo Agriculture Market

History

The origins of Apa stands before the colonial era, as the area historically formed part of the ancient Idoma territories that spanned the middle Benue Valley. ^[4]

Culture and festivals

The Eje-Alekwu festival is among the region’s most widely observed ritual festivals; it includes masquerades, dances and rites tied to harvest and ancestral observance. ^{[5] [ circular reference ]}

Governance and traditional leadership

Apa is a Local Government Area of Benue State. ^[6]

Apa Local Government Area administrative building in Ugbokpo.

An Old Sculpture at entrance of Apa Local Government Area secretariat, Ugbokpo.

Administrative wards

The LGA is subdivided into eleven electoral wards as recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The wards are, Akpete/Ojantelle, Auke, Edikwu I, Edikwu II, Iga-Okpaya, Igoro, Ikobi, Oba, Ofoke, Oiji, and Ugbokpo. ^[7] The Apa Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria, comprises numerous towns and villages. ^[8]

Notable people

• Ojema Ojotu — Member of the House of Representatives for the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly. ^[9]
• Godday Odagboyi Samuel — Member of the House of Representatives for the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the 9th National Assembly (elected 2019). ^[10]
• David Olofu — Former Commissioner for Finance in Benue State, who in 2025–2027 declared his senatorial ambition for Benue South. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

Economy

Crops grown in the area include yams, cassava, maize, guinea corn and melons. ^[14]

See also

• List of villages in Benue State
• Benue State
• Nigeria
• West Africa
• Africa

References

1. "Welcome". benuestate.gov.ng.
2. "Population Statistics – Nigeria". Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
3. "Apa". Government of Benue State of Nigeria. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
4. "The Alekwu Festival among the Idoma of Central Nigeria" (PDF). Idomaland. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
5. "Justice from the Beyond: The Alekwu Tradition of the Idoma Tribe". Oriire. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
6. "Apa Local Government Area – Governance". I Am Benue. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
7. "APA local government Wards – New and Existing Polling Units". EduWeb. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
8. "List of Towns and Villages in Apa L.G.A, Benue State". Media Nigeria. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
9. "Ojema Ojotu – 10th National Assembly profile". ParliamentReports. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
10. "INEC – House of Representatives election result (Apa/Agatu) 2019" (PDF). Independent National Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
11. "Olofu declares for Senate, receives royal blessings". The Sun. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
12. "2027: Olofu declares Senate ambition, vows to drive growth and development". CityPost Nigeria. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
13. "Dr Olofu declares for Senate". Al Jazirah News. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
14. "Apa Local Government Area – Economy". I Am Benue. Retrieved 19 October 2025.