Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North;Taraba State to the East;Kogi State to the West;Enugu State to the South-West;Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers States to the South;and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv,Idoma and Igede. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo,Igbo,Jukun peoples etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region;popularly grown crops include:oranges,mangoes,sweet potatoes,cassava,soya bean,guinea corn,flax,yams,sesame,rice,groundnuts,and Palm Tree.
George Akume is a Nigerian politician who is the current and 21st Secretary to the Government of the Federation,appointed by President Bola Tinubu. He served as minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2023. He was the Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2019. He was also the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015. He served as the governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007.
Abdullahi Adamu is a Nigerian politician who was the governor of Nasarawa State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He is a member and newly elected chairman of the ruling Party All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka (1932–1980) was a Nigerian politician from Benue State and a former minister for Transport and then Communications under General Yakubu Gowon. He was one of the founding members of the United Middle Belt Congress,a political organization dedicated to protecting and advocating for the country's Middle Belt.
The Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Benue comprises three Senators representing Benue South,Benue North-East,and Benue North-West,and ten Representatives representing Apa/Agatu,Kwande/Ushongo,Oju/Obi Vandeikya/Konshisha,Buruku,Ado/Ogbadigba/Opkokwu,Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo,Gboko/Tarka,and Makurdi/Guma,Gwer/Gwer-west.
Dominic Obukadata Oneya was Administrator of Kano State,Nigeria from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha,then Administrator of Benue State from August 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar,handing over power to the elected executive governor George Akume on 29 May 1999. Later,he became Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association.
Group Captain Joshua Obademi was Administrator of Benue State,Nigeria from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Lawal Kaita was a Nigerian politician elected on the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) platform as governor of Kaduna State,Nigeria,holding office between October and December 1983,when the Nigerian Second Republic ended with the coup that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power.
Aper Akulisten (1938–1988) was elected governor of Benue State,Nigeria in October 1979 and reelected in October 1983,leaving office after the military coup in December 1983 which General Mohammadu Buhari came to power.
Lt. Colonel Joseph Iorshagher Akaagerger was the Military Administrator of Katsina State,Nigeria from August 1998 to 29 May 1999. After the return to democracy,in April 2007 he was elected to the Senate representing Benue North East.
Lawrence Anebi Onojalisten was the military governor of Plateau State,Nigeria from 1986 to July 1988 and then of Katsina State until December 1989 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He later became Principal Staff Officer to General Sani Abacha,before being arrested for alleged involvement in a coup attempt. He retired from the army in 1998,and after the return to democracy in May 1999 with the Nigerian Fourth Republic entered into politics.
Barnabas Andyar Iyorhyer Gemade is a Nigerian politician,formerly National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP),who was elected Senator for the Benue North East constituency of Benue State,Nigeria on 9 April 2011 national elections. He is currently a member of All Progressive Congress (APC)
Benue North-West Senatorial District is well known as Zone B in Benue State. The senatorial district has seven local governments which include Buruku,Gboko,Tarka,Guma,Makurdi,Gwer and Gwer West. There are 90 electoral wards and 1,286 polling units as of 2019 polls. The current representative of Benue North-West Senatorial District is Emmanuel Orke-Jev of the People's Democratic Party,PDP.
The Benue State House of Assembly is the legislative arm of the government of Benue State of Nigeria. It is a unicameral legislature with 32 members elected from the 23 local government areas of the state. This makes the number of legislators in the Benue State House of Assembly 32.
The 2003 Benue State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19,2003. Incumbent Governor,PDP's George Akume won election for a second term,defeating ANPP's Paul Unongo and two other candidates.
The 1999 Benue State gubernatorial election occurred in Nigeria on January 9,1999. The PDP nominee George Akume won the election,defeating the APP candidate.
The 2023 Benue State gubernatorial election took place on 18 March 2023,to elect the Governor of Benue State,concurrent with elections to the Benue State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Samuel Ortom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
The 2019 Benue State House of Assembly election was held on March 9,2019,to elect members of the Benue State House of Assembly in Nigeria. All the 30 seats were up for election in the Benue State House of Assembly.
The 2023 Nigerian Senate elections in Benue State will be held on 25 February 2023,to elect the 3 federal Senators from Benue State,one from each of the state's three senatorial districts. The elections will coincide with the 2023 presidential election,as well as other elections to the Senate and elections to the House of Representatives;with state elections being held two weeks later. Primaries were held between 4 April and 9 June 2022.
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election in Benue State will be held on 25 February 2023 as part of the nationwide 2023 Nigerian presidential election to elect the president and vice president of Nigeria. Other federal elections,including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate,will also be held on the same date while state elections will be held two weeks afterward on 11 March.
