2023 Benue State gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:2023 Benue State gubernatorial election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2019 Benue State gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2019
Next Election:2027 Benue State gubernatorial election
Next Year:2027
Election Date:18 March 2023
Registered:2,777,727
Nominee1:
Running Mate1:
Party1:All Progressives Congress
Popular Vote1:473,933
Percentage1:62.61%
Party2:Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
Popular Vote2:223,913
Percentage2:29.58%
Party3:Labour Party (Nigeria)
Popular Vote3:41,881
Percentage3:5.53%
Governor
Before Election:Samuel Ortom
Before Party:Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)
After Party:All Progressives Congress

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.[1] [2] The election — which was postponed from its original 11 March date — was held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections.[3] Incumbent PDP Governor Samuel Ortom was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term. Hyacinth Alia — a suspended Catholic priest — gained the office for the APC by a 33% margin over PDP nominee House of Assembly Speaker Titus Uba.[4]

Party primaries were scheduled for between 4 April and 9 June 2022 with the Peoples Democratic Party nominating Uba on 25 May while the All Progressives Congress first held its primary on 26 and 27 May nominating Alia; however, the primary was partially annulled and a rerun was held on 9 June that was also won by Alia.[5] [6] [7] [8] Despite the initial annulment, the rerun itself was partially annulled by a Court of Appeal ruling in January 2023 which ordered the APC to hold a third primary in 11 local government areas.[9] The new exercise, held on 2 February, resulted in a third victory for Alia.[10]

On 20 March, collation completed and INEC Returning Officer Faruk Kuta declared Alia as the victor. Official results show Alia winning nearly 474,000 votes and 63% of the vote as runner-up Uba received around 224,000 votes and 30% of the vote while LP nominee Herman Hembe came third with about 41,000 votes and 6% of the vote. However, within days of the declaration, Uba announced that he would challenge the results at the electoral tribunal.[11]

Electoral system

The governor of Benue State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.

Background

Benue State is a diverse, agriculture-based state in the Middle Belt; although it is nicknamed the "Food Basket of the Nation" and has vast natural resources, Benue has faced challenges in security as inter-ethnic violence and conflict between herders and farmers heavily affect the state. The overproliferation of weaponry and increased pressure for land along with failures in governance led to the worsening of these clashes in the years ahead of the election.[12]

Politically, Benue's 2019 elections were categorized as a swing back towards the PDP in the aftermath of Ortom's 2018 defection back to the party. On the federal level, PDP nominee Atiku Abubakar narrowly won the state after Buhari had won it in 2015; legislatively, the PDP swept all three Senate seats and won seven House of Representatives seats. Statewise, Ortom won re-election by over 10% of the vote and the PDP won a majority in the House of Assembly.

During its second term, the Ortom administration's stated focuses included economic growth, stopping herder-farmer and ethnic conflicts, and infrastructural development. In terms of his performance, Ortom was commended for his proposals to end herder-farmer conflicts while being criticized for deflecting responsibility for insecurity, the initial failure of a 2019 peace meeting between Tiv and Jukun groups, a flawed COVID-19 response, his brief early 2021 spat with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed which descended into ethnic gibes, a corrupt land grab, and his perceived obsession with picking fights with the federal government.[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Primary elections

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, were to take place between 4 April and 3 June 2022 but the deadline was extended to 9 June.[22] Arguments over an informal zoning gentlemen's agreement have led to disputes over whether it is the turn of the Jechira Tiv in Benue North-West Senatorial District, the Kwande Tiv in Benue North-East Senatorial District, and the Idoma in Benue South Senatorial District. The Jechira Gubernatorial Movement claims right to the governorship as they are the only Tiv subgroup to never have a governor complete a term, some Kwande people claim right to the governorship as some activists count the Jechira Governor Moses Adasu's shortened term and thus the rotation between Tiv subgroups would start again with the Kwande, and Idoma groups claim right to the governorship as no Idoma has ever held the office.[23] [24] [25]

While the major parties zoned their nominations to both a Jechira Tiv-majority area and the Idoma-majority Benue South Senatorial District, the PDP nominated a Tiv person while the APC nominee is from Benue South.

All Progressives Congress

In early May 2022, the state party zoned its nomination to two areas: the Jechira Tiv-majority local government areas of Vandeikya and Konshisha in the North-East and the entire South Senatorial District.[26]

Ahead of the primary, it was announced that the Benue APC would use the direct primary method to elect its nominee.[27] However, on primary day, the absence of election officials led to long delays and the postponement of some voting to 27 May.[28] After voting completed, Hyacinth Alia—a suspended Catholic priest—was announced as winner with over 525,000 votes, about 64% of the vote. Immediately after the results were released, several of Alia's opponents rejected the vote totals as fabricated and petitioned the party for an annulment while one candidate—MHR Herman Hembe—left the party in protest.[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] On 4 June, the primary appeal committee released its report, recommending the primary's annulment due to the committee being unable to confirm the veracity of several results sheets;[35] [36] in response, the APC National Working Committee ordered a rerun primary in 12 local government areas scheduled for 9 June. In the rerun primary, Alia again came first as he won about 195,000 votes, about 72% of the vote. However, his opponents again rejected the results with Michael Aondoakaa suing the party as Barnabas Andyar Gemade blamed minister George Akume for rigging the election.[37] [38] Aondoakaa's lawsuit was dismissed by a Federal High Court ruling in November 2022.[39] However, the lawsuit of another losing aspirant— Terhemba Shija—was partially successful as a Court of Appeal ruling in January 2023 nullified the primary and ordered a rerun in the 11 local government areas that were not covered by the June rerun. While the APC accepted the ruling and prepared to hold the rerun, Shija rejected it and appealed to higher courts.[40] [41] [42] Despite the appeal, the party swiftly organised the rerun for 2 February with it resulting in a third Alia victory.[43]

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Results

People's Democratic Party

On 3 February 2021, Governor Samuel Ortom ordered all his appointees to suspend their gubernatorial campaigns or resign; this directive applied to his Chief of Staff Terwase Orbunde, who had announced his run for governor on 7 January.[54] Orbunde suspended his campaign on 7 February.[55] Ortom later directed any appointees preparing to run in a 2023 election to resign by 30 September; on that day, five appointees resigned with three (Orbunde, Water Resources Commissioner Dondo Ahire, and Education Commissioner Dennis Ityavyar) intending to run for governor.[56]

On 11 July 2021, Ortom said that the Benue PDP would decide whether to zone their nomination to either Benue South or Benue North-East.[57] This statement was a few days before meeting with PDP gubernatorial aspirants on 16 July. But in early April 2022, the state party zoned its nomination to two local government areas: the Jechira Tiv-majority Vandeikya in the North-East and the Idoma-majority Otukpo in the South with the goal of southern and north-eastern party leaders unofficially agreeing on one candidate each who would then face each other in the primary. Reportedly, the southern candidate is Deputy Governor Benson Abounu while reports stated that there was an internal rift in the Benue PDP over the unofficial north-eastern candidate as Ortom (who has publicly come out in favor of a north-eastern Tiv nominee instead of a southern Idoma nominee) backed Ityavyar while PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu supported Assembly Speaker Titus Uba, party stakeholders eventually reached a decision on 18 April when it was announced that Uba would be the north-eastern candidate.[58] [59] [60] [61] [62] However, the arrangement was controversial as some candidates derided the process as undemocratic and lacking in transparency before they bought forms anyway.[63]

On the primary date, candidates contested an indirect primary in Makurdi that ended with Uba emerging as the PDP nominee after results showed him winning just under 90% of the delegates' votes. In his acceptance speech, Uba thanked his former opponents and party supporters.[64] [65] Although he accepted the results and congratulated Uba, Abounu lamented discrimination against Idoma during his own speech.[66] A few days later, Ortom announced state PDP chairman John Ngbede would be the party's deputy gubernatorial nominee with observers noting the regional balance as Ngbede is from Benue South.

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Minor parties

Campaign

The early parts of the general election campaign focused on dealing with the aftermath of contentious party primaries. As controversy in the PDP centered around the party again refusing to choose a nominee from the Southern part of the state, Uba's post-primary reconciliation move was to pick a running mate from the region—John Ngbede from Agatu LGA. In the APC, the controversy was mainly about the conduct of the primary itself as most of Alia's opponents rejected the results as fabricated. One of these opponents, Barnabas Andyar Gemade, and his allies wrote an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari that accused minister George Akume of imposing Alia as nominee and claimed that his continued candidacy could led to the party's disqualification.[86] In July 2022, Uba attempted to capitalize on the APC crisis by asking a court to disqualify Alia based on the claims of his intraparty opponents.[87]

Immediately after the primaries, observers noted the peculiarity of Alia's candidacy due to his occupation as a Catholic priest. He drew comparisons with former Governor Moses Adasu, who was also a Catholic priest. While it was also noted that the Church suspended Alia from the priesthood in May 2022, analysts said his profession was a major part of his primary campaign and Alia himself said that he was deciding "to extend it [the [[gospel]]] to governance."[88] [89] By January 2023, observers continued focus on Alia's popularity but noted the power of incumbency benefiting Uba. On the other hand, Uba's weeks-long medical vacation removed him from campaigning and led to questions on his fitness to govern. Reporting also pointed out other potential factors such as legal cases against Alia's nomination and insecurity along with the more prominent minor party nominees—Joseph Waya (APGA), Herman Hembe (LP), and Bem Angwe (NNPP).[90] Later that month, discussion on the potential impact of challenges to the APC primary proved accurate as a Court of Appeal ruling partially nullified the party's primary and ordered a rerun in 11 local government areas. However, the third primary simply resulted in another Alia victory and the continuation of his general election campaign.

Later in February, focus switched to the nearing presidential election on 25 February. In the election, Benue voted for Bola Tinubu (APC); Tinubu won the state with 40.3% of the vote, beating Peter Obi (LP) at 40.0% and Atiku Abubakar (PDP) at 16.9%. Aside from the presidential result—which itself was a surprise as projections favored Obi, the senatorial elections had another surprise with Ortom losing to the APC in the North-West district. These two results, coupled with Ortom's low approval compared to Alia's popularity, led analysts in later February and early March to focus on Alia's rising chances.[91] [92] [93] [94] Additionally, the presidential result pushed journalists to label Hembe as a major candidate, considering the high total of Obi.[95]

Projections

SourceProjectionAs of
[96] Likely Alia17 March 2023
Enough is Enough-
Alia2 March 2023

Conduct

Electoral timetable

General election

Results

By senatorial district

The results of the election by senatorial district.

Senatorial DistrictHyacinth Alia
APC
Herman Hembe
LP
Titus Uba
PDP
OthersTotal Valid Votes
VotesPercentageVotesPercentageVotesPercentageVotesPercentage
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Benue North-East Senatorial District
(Zone A)
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 171,153bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 65.79%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 23,561bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9.06%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 60,291bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 23.18%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 5,140bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.98%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 260,145
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Benue North-West Senatorial District
(Zone B)
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 207,953bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 66.13%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9,931bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3.16%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 92,140bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 29.30%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4,421bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.41%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 314,445
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Benue South Senatorial District
(Zone C)
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 94,827bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 52.02%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 8,389bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4.60%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 71,482bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 39.22%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 7,576bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4.16%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 182,274
Totals 473,933 62.61% 41,881 5.53% 223,913 29.58% 17,176 2.28% 756,903

By federal constituency

The results of the election by federal constituency.

Federal ConstituencyHyacinth Alia
APC
Herman Hembe
LP
Titus Uba
PDP
OthersTotal Valid Votes
VotesPercentageVotesPercentageVotesPercentageVotesPercentage
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25,615bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 51.75%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,752bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3.54%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 19,045bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 38.47%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3,089bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.24%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 49,501
bgcolor=#009404 align="center" Apa/Agatu Federal Constituencybgcolor=#009404 align="center" 15,407bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 44.71%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 681bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1.98%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 17,740bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 51.48%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 635bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1.84%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 34,463
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Buruku Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 34,713bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 75.57%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,155bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.51%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9,513bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20.71%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 556bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.21%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 45,937
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 70,407bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 73.38%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,668bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.74%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 22,521bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 23.47%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,352bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.41%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 95,948
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Guma/Makurdi Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 71,803bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 63.65%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4,327bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3.84%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 34,412bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 30.50%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2,262bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.01%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 112,804
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 31,030bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 51.93%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2,781bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4.65%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25,694bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 43.00%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 251bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.42%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 59,756
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 78,424bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 69.47%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 913bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.81%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 32,519bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 28.80%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,035bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.92%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 112,891
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Konshisha/Vandeikya Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 60,783bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 58.11%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 21,735bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20.78%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 18,893bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 18.06%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3,187bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3.05%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 104,598
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 31,946bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 74.89%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 913bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.14%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 8,879bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20.82%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 918bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.15%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 42,656
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Oju/Obi Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 27,142bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 59.44%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2,796bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.12%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 15,078bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 33.02%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 645bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.41%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 45,661
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituencybgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 26,663bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 50.64%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3,160bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.00%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 19,619bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 37.27%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3,207bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.09%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 52,649
Totals 473,933 62.61% 41,881 5.53% 223,913 29.58% 17,176 2.28% 756,903

By local government area

The results of the election by local government area.

LGAHyacinth Alia
APC
Herman Hembe
LP
Titus Uba
PDP
OthersTotal Valid VotesTurnout Percentage
VotesPercentageVotesPercentageVotesPercentageVotesPercentage
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ado[97] bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 8,662bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 60.34%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 308bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.15%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4,379bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 30.50%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,006bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 7.01%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 14,355bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 17.79%
bgcolor=#009404 align="center" Agatubgcolor=#009404 align="center" 7,482bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 41.70%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 216bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1.20%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 9,934bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 55.37%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 311bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1.73%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 17,943bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 28.62%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Apabgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 7,925bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 47.97%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 465bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.82%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 7,806bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 47.25%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 324bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.96%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 16,520bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25.49%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Burukubgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 34,713bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 75.57%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,155bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.51%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9,513bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20.71%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 556bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.21%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 45,937bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 35.78%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Gbokobgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 53,985bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 71.68%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,493bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.98%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 18,773bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 24.93%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,065bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.41%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 75,316bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 30.68%
bgcolor=#009404 align="center" Gumabgcolor=#009404 align="center" 15,371bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 40.20%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 535bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1.40%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 22,083bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 57.75%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 250bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 0.65%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 38,239bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 33.97%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Gwer Eastbgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20,083bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 59.77%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,272bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3.78%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 12,085bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 35.97%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 161bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.48%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 33,601bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 33.97%
bgcolor=#009404 align="center" Gwer Westbgcolor=#009404 align="center" 10,947bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 41.86%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1,509bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 5.77%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 13,609bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 52.03%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 90bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 0.34%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 26,155bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 35.31%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Katsina-Alabgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 34,347bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 82.43%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 178bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.43%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6,716bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 16.12%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 428bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.02%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 41,669bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25.07%
bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" Konshishabgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 13,997bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 32.47%bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 21,606bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 50.12%bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 5,905bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 13.70%bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 1,598bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 3.71%bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 43,106bgcolor=#e15445 align="center" 33.30%
bgcolor=#eaecf1 align="center" KwandeNo election held due to ballot paper error
bgcolor=#009404 align="center" Logobgcolor=#009404 align="center" 15,574bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 47.80%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 296bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 0.91%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 16,385bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 50.29%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 327bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 1.00%bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 32,582bgcolor=#009404 align="center" 29.00%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Makurdibgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 56,432bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 75.68%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3,792bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 5.09%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 12,329bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 16.53%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2,012bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.70%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 74,565bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 24.84%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Obibgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9,897bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 56.49%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,185bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.77%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6,267bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 35.77%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 170bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.97%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 17,519bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25.69%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ogbadibobgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 7,627bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 48.14%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 405bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.56%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6,032bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 38.07%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,779bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 11.23%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 15,843bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 22.49%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ohiminibgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 7,233bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 45.92%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 973bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.18%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6,785bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 43.08%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 760bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4.83%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 15,751bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 34.05%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ojubgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 17,245bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 61.28%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,611bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 5.72%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 8,811bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 31.31%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 475bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.69%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 28,142bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25.94%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Okpokwubgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9,326bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 48.31%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,039bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 5.38%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 8,634bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 44.73%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 304bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.58%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 19,303bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25.57%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Otukpobgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 19,430bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 52.66%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2,187bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 5.93%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 12,834bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 34.78%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2,447bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 6.63%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 36,898bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 25.04%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Tarkabgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 16,422bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 79.59%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 175bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.85%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 3,748bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 18.17%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 287bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.39%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20,632bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 37.74%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ukumbgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 28,503bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 73.77%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 439bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1.14%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 9,418bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 24.37%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 280bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.72%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 38,640bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 27.74%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ushongobgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 31,946bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 74.89%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 913bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.14%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 8,879bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 20.82%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 918bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.15%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 42,656bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 36.70%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Vandeikyabgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 46,786bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 76.09%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 129bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 0.21%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 12,988bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 21.12%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 1,589bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 2.58%bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 61,492bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 37.87%
Totals 473,933 62.61% 41,881 5.53% 223,913 29.58% 17,176 2.28% 756,903 %

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oyekanmi . Rotimi . It’s Official: 2023 Presidential, National Assembly Elections to Hold Feb 25. INEC News . 27 February 2022 . 26 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Jimoh . Abbas . INEC Sets New Dates For 2023 General Elections . . 26 February 2022 . 26 February 2022.
  3. Web site: Suleiman . Qosim . It’s Official: INEC postpones Saturday’s governorship, state assembly elections . . 15 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Ejekwonyilo . Ameh . Catholic priest Hyacinth Alia wins Benue State governorship election . . 11 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Ejembi . Rose . BREAKING: Uba is Benue PDP guber candidate . . 14 June 2022 . Makurdi.
  6. Web site: Duru . Peter . Suspended Benue Catholic priest, Alia, wins APC guber ticket; other aspirants protest . . 14 June 2022.
  7. Web site: APC orders gov primary rerun in 12 Benue local govts . . . 14 June 2022.
  8. Web site: Father Alia Wins Benue Apc Governorship Re-run Primary Election . TVC News . 14 June 2022.
  9. Web site: Ugwu . Francis . Court of Appeal nullifies APC guber primaries in Benue . . 24 January 2023.
  10. Web site: Emmanuel . Hope Abah . Alia Wins Benue APC Governorship Re-Run Primary Election . . 3 February 2023.
  11. Web site: Duru . Peter . Benue PDP rejects Gov’ship/State Assembly results, head to tribunal . . 11 August 2023.
  12. Web site: Ojewale . Oluwole . What’s driving violence in Nigeria’s north central region . . 15 March 2022.
  13. Web site: Top 5, Bottom 5: RipplesNigeria ranking of Nigerian governors for August, 2020 . . 15 March 2022.
  14. Web site: Yusuf . Dele . Nigeria 2023: Benue Governor opens up on his cold war with President Buhari . . 15 March 2022.
  15. Web site: Tiv/Jukun Crisis: How Abuja Peace Meeting failed . Taraba Truth and Facts . 15 March 2022.
  16. Web site: RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, SEPTEMBER, 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5 . . 15 March 2022.
  17. Web site: RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, MARCH, 2020: Top 5, Bottom 5 . . 15 March 2022.
  18. Web site: Ranking Nigerian Governors, February, 2021: When governors became ethnic champions . . 15 March 2022.
  19. Web site: Mohammed . Yakubu . EXPOSED: Ortom’s Manipulation of Benue Judiciary to Grab N25bn Land . Foundation For Investigative Journalism . 22 March 2022.
  20. Web site: Ranking Nigerian Govs Nov/Dec 2021: Sanwo-Olu’s mixed bag, el-Rufai’s consistency, Ortom’s obsession, Wike’s pendulum . . 15 March 2022 . Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, is undoubtedly one of the fiercest critics of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and he is rather unfortunately known for his criticism of the President than any other thing, especially governance achievements...his outbursts are mostly borne out of an obsession, a populist instinct and an attempt to pass for a defender of his people, without any commensurate action that practically demonstrates his love for the people like through the provision of basic infrastructures, and timely payment of salaries and pension..
  21. Web site: ICYMI…Ranking Nigerian Govs Jan, 2022: Sanwo-Olu’s strides, Ortom’s self-sabotage, Ikpeazu’s shocker, Matawalle’s mystery political bandits . . 15 March 2022 . Ortom has continued with his verbal onslaught on President Buhari in a manner deemed distracting from the urgent needs of the people of his state..
  22. Web site: James . Dominic . Primaries: INEC Grants Parties Six Extra Days, Timetable Remains Unchanged . INEC News . 28 May 2022.
  23. Web site: Jegede . Michael . 2023, Benue South and power shift agitation [Opinion] ]. . 22 June 2021.
  24. Web site: Odufowokan . ‘Dare . Benue 2023: Why Idoma people want to produce governor . . 22 June 2021.
  25. Web site: Nwakaudu . Charity . Agitation for Benue Governor from Zone C receives boost . . 22 June 2021.
  26. Web site: Emmanuel . Uja . Benue 2023: Who will be APC’s gubernatorial candidate? . . 9 May 2022.
  27. Web site: Shiaondo . John . Benue APC adopts direct primaries . . 14 June 2022.
  28. Web site: Duru . Peter . Benue APC Primaries: Election officials absent as party members troop out to vote . . 14 June 2022.
  29. Web site: Babajide . Johnson . Gemade, Aondoakaa, Others Protest Victory Of Catholic Priest At Benue APC Governorship Primary . . 14 June 2022.
  30. Web site: Emmanuel . Uja . APC guber aspirants demand cancellation of primary . . 14 June 2022.
  31. Web site: Duru . Peter . Gemade rejects outcome of Benue APC guber primary . . 14 June 2022.
  32. Web site: Orokpo . Treasure . BREAKING: Benue APC guber primary election a sham, charade – Terhemba Shija . Idoma Voice . 14 June 2022.
  33. Web site: Osasona . Kehinde . Benue APC: Ex- AGF, Aondoakaa, challenges father Alia’s emergence in court, demands fresh primary . . 14 June 2022.
  34. Web site: Benue: I ceased to be APC member since May 26 – Hembe, LP gov candidate . . 14 June 2022.
  35. Web site: Itodo . Yemi . APC appeal committee nullifies Benue guber primaries . . 14 June 2022.
  36. Web site: Okoh . George . Appeal Committee Faults Benue APC Governorship Primary . . 14 June 2022.
  37. Web site: Orokpo . Treasure . BREAKING: Aondoakaa sues APC, Alia over Benue governorship primary . Idoma Voice . 14 June 2022.
  38. Web site: Duru . Peter . Benue APC crisis deepens as Gemade talks tough . . 14 June 2022.
  39. Web site: Oyeyemi . Fadehan . Ex-AGF Aondoakaa loses legal battle on Benue APC governorship ticket . . 1 December 2022.
  40. Web site: Orsar . Hembadoon . Benue APC Accepts Appeal Court Verdict On Gov’ship Primary . . 25 January 2023.
  41. Web site: Charles . John . Benue: APC candidate heads to S’Court, rejects fresh primary . . 25 January 2023.
  42. Web site: Duru . Peter . Benue APC guber aspirant challenges rerun order . . 2 February 2023.
  43. Web site: Emmanuel . Hope Abah . APC Holds Gov’ship Primary Rerun In Benue . . 2 February 2023.
  44. Web site: Martins . Kajo . Revd Fr Alia Joins APC, Declares Benue Governorship Ambition . The Will Nigeria . 14 April 2022.
  45. Web site: Charles . John . APC gov primary: Catholic priest, Aondoakaa, 10 others cleared in Benue . . 17 May 2022.
  46. Web site: Ejembi . Rose . Benue 2023: Gemade formally informs Jechira traditional rulers of his intention to contest for Governor . . 22 June 2021.
  47. Web site: 2023 Guber: No Vacancy For ‘Grandfather’ Governors In Benue – Suswam . . 22 June 2021.
  48. Web site: Emmanuel . Uja . 2023: I will transform Benue, says APC aspirant . The Nation . 23 November 2021.
  49. Web site: Okoh . George . Convention: Former Benue Deputy Gov Backs Buni’s Caretaker Committee . . 23 November 2021.
  50. Web site: Duru . Peter . Benue APC guber primaries: My pedigree makes me candidate to beat —Sam Ode . . 7 April 2022.
  51. Web site: Ejembi . Rose . Benue Guber: It’s battle royale as over 60 aspirants jostle for Ortom’s seat . . 14 April 2022.
  52. Web site: Ochigbo . EricJames . Terlumun Ikya, joins race for Benue government house . . 14 January 2022.
  53. Web site: Emmanuel . Uja . Tilley-Gyado joins Benue Gov race . . 25 April 2022.
  54. Web site: Emmanuel . Uja . Benue Chief of Staff unfolds governorship ambition . . 22 June 2021.
  55. Web site: Benue Chief of Staff suspends 2023 campaign . . 22 June 2021.
  56. Web site: Charles . John . 2023 gov: Ortom’s chief of staff, four commissioners resign . . 1 October 2021.
  57. Web site: PDP’ll decide which zone will produce my successor – Ortom . . 13 July 2021.
  58. Web site: Charles . John . Zoning: Ortom’s ex-aide, others to miss Benue gov race . . 7 April 2022.
  59. Web site: Orsar . Hembadoon . Benue: PDP’s Zoning Plan Raises Old Questions . . 7 April 2022.
  60. Web site: Ejekwonyilo . Ameh . EXCLUSIVE: 2023 Benue Governorship: Why power can’t go to Idomaland – Governor Ortom . . 17 April 2022.
  61. Web site: Itodo . Yemi . Benue 2023: Ortom’s deputy, speaker now last men standing for PDP ticket . . 18 April 2022.
  62. Web site: Okoh . George . PDP, APC in Final Push for the Soul of Benue State . . 8 May 2022.
  63. Web site: Ajaja . Tunde . Ede . Raphael . Odogwu . Ted . Odey . Patrick . Tyopuusu . Justin . Oyelude . Olaide . Ochei . Matthew . Naku . Dennis . Wakaso . Aisha . Nwakanma . Sunday . Nnachi . Edward . Abraham . James . 2023: Ganduje, Okowa, Ikpeazu, Ortom, Wike others in succession crisis . . 23 April 2022 . 23 April 2022 . Meanwhile, some other aspirants, including a former Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Paul Angya, have expressed opposition to the consensus option. Angya said the process lacked merit and transparency, and did not reflect the popular will of the people..
  64. Web site: Benue speaker emerges PDP guber candidate . . . 14 June 2022.
  65. Web site: Angbo . Pius . Benue Speaker Beats Deputy Governor To Win PDP Governorship Ticket . . 14 June 2022.
  66. Web site: Babajide . Johnson . Governorship Primary: Benue Speaker Defeats Dep Gov, Others To Pick PDP Ticket . . 14 June 2022.
  67. Web site: Itodo . Yemi . Benue PDP chair, Ngbede emerges deputy governorship candidate . . 14 June 2022.
  68. Web site: Odufowokan . 'Dare . Emmanuel . Uja . Benue 2023: Ortom’s deputy leads Idoma’s guber quest . . 23 December 2021.
  69. Web site: Achussah . Denen . 2023: PDP Clears 14 For 2023 Benue Governorship Ticket . ThisWeek . 8 May 2022.
  70. Web site: Vande-Acka . Tor . Benue Governor’s Aide Reveals Ucha As Ortom’s Successor . . 23 November 2021.
  71. Web site: 2023: Benue governor meets PDP guber aspirants, promises fairness . Today . 23 November 2021.
  72. Web site: Charles . John . Ortom names CPS, others as likely successors . . 20 June 2021.
  73. Web site: Benue 2023: PDP Aspirants Jostle to Succeed Ortom . The Will . 22 June 2021.
  74. Web site: 2023: Ortom’s ex-CPS, Akase joins Benue guber race . . 23 November 2021.
  75. Web site: I have the capability to govern Benue — Atorough . Vanguard . 23 November 2021.
  76. Web site: Duru . Peter . Ex Chairman NTA Board of Directors, Chief Ogbu joins Benue guber race . Vanguard . 23 November 2021.
  77. Web site: Sunday . Ochogwu . 2023: Ortom’s former Chief of Staff, Orbunde dumps PDP, joins governorship race . . 4 May 2022.
  78. Web site: Adeyemi . Tijani . Former NAFDAC DG Picks PDP Benue Governorship Nomination Form . . 14 April 2022.
  79. Web site: Wantu . Joseph . ‘End to insecurity in Nigeria would boost travel, tourism’ . . 20 June 2021.
  80. Web site: Iliya . Rejoice . Benue 2023: Kiddwaya’s Mum Joins Guber Race . . 24 March 2022.
  81. Web site: Salau . Abdullateef . 2023: Senators Scheming For Governorship Seats . . 10 January 2022.
  82. Web site: Badejo . Emmanuel . Senators eyeing governorship race in their states . . 20 April 2022 . 20 April 2022.
  83. Web site: FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR STATE ELECTIONS - Governorship & Houses of Assembly . . 5 October 2022.
  84. Web site: AMENDMENT 4 GOVERNORSHIP . . 19 February 2023.
  85. Web site: Herman Hembe emerges Labour Party guber candidate in Benue after failing in APC . . . 2 July 2022.
  86. Web site: Odufowokan . 'Dare . 2023: Conflicts in Benue, Delta, Kano, others over guber tickets . . 4 August 2022.
  87. Web site: Nseyen . Nsikak . PDP seeks disqualification of APC’s governorship, senatorial candidates in Benue . . 4 July 2022.
  88. Web site: Ejekwonyilo . Ameh . ANALYSIS: Priest’s ambition threatens PDP’s chances in Benue governorship race . . 4 July 2022.
  89. Web site: Emmanuel . Hope Abah . Benue Guber: Catholic Priest’s Rise From Pulpit To Politics . . 4 July 2022.
  90. Web site: Emmanuel . Hope Abah . 63 Days To Poll: Who Succeeds Ortom In Benue? . . 8 January 2023.
  91. Web site: Ejekwonyilo . Ameh . ANALYSIS: Can Catholic priest help APC reclaim Benue State from PDP? . . 15 March 2023.
  92. Web site: Sunday . Collins . Nasarawa LP gov candidate steps down, backs PDP . . 15 March 2023.
  93. Web site: Presidential Election Results May Affect Guber Races In 10 States . . 15 March 2023.
  94. Web site: Adio . Waziri . Three Exciting Guber Races of March 18th . . 15 March 2023.
  95. Web site: Ezeamalu . Ben . Nigeria governorship: Two lawmakers and a priest race for Benue state . . 17 March 2023.
  96. Web site: Elimian . Adrian . Nigerian Gubernatorial Elections: State Ratings . . 17 March 2023.
  97. Web site: Emmanuel . Hope Abah . Rev Father Alia Humbles Benue Speaker As APC Regains State Lost Under Ortom . . 12 August 2023.