Benue State comprises 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 276 council wards. A study by Soluap (soluap.com) indicates that Gboko LGA has 17 being the largest number of council wards in the state while Ohimini and few others have 10.
The following is a list of all thecouncilwards in Benue State and their LGAs.
Some of the largest LGAs in Benue State in terms of the number of wards include:
Makurdi: Being the state capital and an urban center, it has a high number of wards.
Gboko: Another densely populated LGA, Gboko is known for its large number of wards that ensure proper representation of the Tiv people.
Otukpo: As the headquarters of the Idoma people, Otukpo also has a significant number of wards to manage local governance.
These LGAs, due to their size and population, have a larger share of the 276 wards in the state.
Food Basket monument in Makurdi
Smallest Local Government Areas by Number of Wards
Some of the smaller LGAs in Benue State with fewer wards include:
Tarka LGA: A smaller LGA in terms of both geography and population, Tarka has fewer wards compared to the larger LGAs.
Oju LGA: Oju is more rural and less densely populated, resulting in fewer council wards.
Significance of Council Wards in Governance
Council wards are essential to the governance structure in Benue State, as they serve as the most direct link between the people and the local government. Wards are not only constituencies for local elections but also play a crucial role in community representation and governance. Each ward elects a councilor who represents the interests of the ward in the Local Government Council, ensuring that local issues such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security are addressed.
In addition to local governance, wards serve as the foundational units during state and federal elections, where electoral processes are organized at the ward level, ensuring that every community has a voice in the political landscape of the state.
Local Government System
Nigeria operates under a three-tier system of government, consisting of the federal, state, and local governments. The local government tier is the most grassroots-oriented, tasked with addressing the specific needs of smaller communities and ensuring that governance reaches every corner of the nation. Each LGA is further divided into council wards, which serve as the administrative constituencies for local elections.
In Benue State, this system allows for localized governance, where decisions are made at the community level. Council wards ensure that the population is adequately represented in local government councils, and each ward elects a councilor responsible for addressing the needs of their constituency.
