The Independent National Electoral Commission in Benue State has announced a temporary suspension of the first phase of its Continuous Voter Registration exercise, effective December 10, 2025.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sam Egwu, announced in a statement that citizens and stakeholders should take note of the upcoming schedule. He confirmed that the first phase of Continuous Voter Registration, which started on August 25, 2025, will be suspended on December 10, 2025.

Following the suspension, the Preliminary Register of Voters will be made available for public scrutiny from December 15 to December 21, 2025. The register will be accessible at all local government area offices and the state INEC headquarters. During this one-week period, eligible voters will have the opportunity to verify their registration details, confirm their names appear correctly on the register, and raise objections where necessary. The commission emphasized that this display period is crucial for cleaning up the voter register and ensuring its accuracy.

Also, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that the second phase of Continuous Voter Registration will begin on January 5, 2026, giving new eligible voters a chance to register and existing voters an opportunity to update their details.

INEC explained that the temporary halt is part of its standard procedure to maintain an accurate and credible voter register. The display period enables the commission to address discrepancies, process claims and objections, and ensure all registered voters are properly captured in the database before continuing with fresh registrations.

However, the commission urged all residents who registered during the first phase to visit the designated centers during the claims and objections period to verify their details.