2003 Benue State gubernatorial election
{{short description|2003 gubernatorial election in Benue State, Nigeria}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2003 Benue State gubernatorial election
| country = Nigeria
| flag_image = {{flagicon|NGR}}
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1999 Benue State gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 1999
| next_election = 2007 Benue State gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2007
| election_date = April 19, 2003
| turnout =
| image_size =
| image1 =
| nominee1 = George Akume
| running_mate1 = Ogiri Ajene
| party1 = People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| popular_vote1 = 681,717
| percentage1 =
| image2 =
| nominee2 = Paul Unongo
| running_mate2 =
| party2 = All Nigeria Peoples Party
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = Governor
| before_election = George Akume
| before_party = People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
| after_election = George Akume
| after_party = People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
}}
The 2003 Benue State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003.{{Cite web |url=https://africanelections.tripod.com/id85.html |title=19 April 2003 Gubernatorial Elections in Nigeria |publisher=African Elections Database |access-date=May 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/212733/Nigeria-general-elections_12-&-19-April-03-May-20016_EU-EOM-report.pdf|title=Nigeria General Elections 12 & 19 April 2003 and 03 May 2003|publisher=European Union Election Observation Mission|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/412eef5b4.html|title=Nigeria's 2003 Elections: The Unacknowledged Violence |publisher=Ref World|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://dawodu.com/aluko44.htm |title=A Preliminary Forensic Analysis of INEC's Website So Far |last=Aluko |first=Mobolaji E. |date=April 28, 2003 |publisher=Dawodu.com |access-date=May 17, 2021}} Incumbent Governor, PDP's George Akume won election for a second term, defeating ANPP's Paul Unongo and two other candidates.{{Cite web |url=http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2003/apr/22/072.html|url-status=live |title=PDP captures 27 states; ANPP-7; AD-1 l Obasanjo set for victory |date=April 22, 2003 |publisher=Biafra Nigeria World.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327221428/http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2003/apr/22/072.html |access-date=May 20, 2021|archive-date=March 27, 2013 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/284813-analysis-nigerian-senate-as-retirement-home-for-state-governors.html|title=ANALYSIS: Nigerian Senate as retirement home for state governors|author=Iroanusi, QueenEsther|date=September 21, 2018|publisher=Premium Times|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.legit.ng/1208659-who-governor-benue-state.html|title=Top facts to know about the first Benue State governor|author=Tersoo, Andrella|date=December 11, 2018|publisher=Legit.com|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/senator-akume-at-60/|title=Senator Akume at 60|date=December 27, 2013|publisher=The Nation|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite journal|publisher=Wiley Online Library|journal=Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series|volume=40|issue=4|pages=15255–15290|title=Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, April 1st-30th 2003 Published May 29th 2003|date=May 23, 2003
|doi=10.1111/1467-825X.00177|url=https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-825X.00177|access-date=May 23, 2021|url-access=subscription}}
George Akume was the PDP nominee at the primary election. He retained Ogiri Ajene as his running mate.{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200611201316.html|title=Nigeria: Benue 2007 - Onoja Factorand Anointment Rumour|date=November 20, 2006|publisher=Daily Champion|location=Lagos|author=Imobo-Tswam, Simon|website=All Africa|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://dailypost.ng/2013/04/20/breaking-former-benue-state-deputy-governor-ajene-dies-in-london-hospital/|title=Former Benue State Deputy Governor Ajene dies in London hospital|date=April 20, 2013|author=Inyang, Ifreke|publisher=Daily Post|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PDoIDEXdZwkC&dq=Benjamin+Elue+2003+deputy&pg=PA159|title=Nigeria: Echoes of a Century: Volume Two 1999-2014|author=Azikiwe, Ifeoha|date=2013|page=159|isbn=9781481729291|access-date=May 27, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://rainbownigeria.com/2020/10/08/state-governors-and-their-deputies/|title=State Governors and Their Deputies|author=Emmanuel, Odang|website=Rainbow Nigeria|access-date=May 31, 2021}}
Electoral system
The Governor of Benue State is elected using the plurality voting system.
Results
A total of four candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamji.com/aluko/aluko46.htm |title=NIGERIAN ELECTIONS 2003: Update 006: Nigerian Presidential & Gubernatorial Candidates |last=Aluko |first=Mobolaji E. |date=February 23, 2003 |publisher=Gamji |access-date=May 20, 2021}} Incumbent Governor, George Akume won election for a second term, defeating three other candidates.{{Cite web |url=https://nigeriaworld.com/focus/states/governors2003.html |title=Nigerian State Elected Governors 2003 |publisher=Nigeria World |date=September 6, 2003 |editor=Odili, Chuck E. |access-date=May 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.iambenue.com/benue-state/benue-state/benue-state-governors/|title=Benue State Governors|website=I Am Benue|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=http://saharareporters.com/2006/09/10/benue-state-akume%E2%80%99s-scandals-thenewssaharareporters|title=Benue State: Akume's Scandals-|publisher=Sahara Reporters|date=September 10, 2006|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.slideshare.net/basilachie1/governors-of-benue-state-nigeria-167890216|title=Governors of Benue State, Nigeria|author=Achie, Basil|date=August 31, 2019|publisher=Slide Share|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite web|url= https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/53451/Nyam_Analysis_2015.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
|title=AN ANALYSIS OF THE 2003 AND 2007 ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA|author=Aondowase, Nyam|year=2015|format=PDF|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/how-akume-assaulted-me-at-tor-tiv-sons-wedding-mku/|title=How Akume assaulted me at Tor Tiv son's wedding – Mku|author=Charles, John|date=February 22, 2020|publisher=Punch|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/how-akume-assaulted-me-at-tor-tiv-sons-wedding-ex-governorship-candidate/|title=How Akume assaulted me at Tor Tiv son's wedding —Ex governorship candidate|author=Babajide, Johnson|location=Makurdi|date=February 23, 2020|publisher=Tribune Online|access-date=May 22, 2021}}{{Cite journal|author=Onoja, Adoyi|title=Nature, Character and Outcomes of Post Election Challenges in Nigeria|journal=Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria|volume=18|date=2009|pages=79–104|publisher=Historical Society of Nigeria|jstor=41854929|format=JSTOR|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41854929|access-date=May 23, 2021}}
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,755,528. However, only 70.27% (i.e. 1,233,522) of registered voters participated in the exercise.{{Cite web |url=https://dawodu.com/aluko50.htm |title=What Happened in the South-West – The Myth of Massive Repudiation & Enthusiastic Acceptance |author=Aluko, Mobolaji E. |location=Burtonsville, MD, USA |date=May 25, 2003 |publisher=Dawodu.com |access-date=May 19, 2021}}{{Cite journal |url=https://web.ccsu.edu/afstudy/upd11-4.html |title=The 2003 Elections in Nigeria: Views from a Policy Maker |author=Akinyele, T. A. |journal=Africa Update |publisher=CCSU |volume=XI |issue=4 |date=Fall 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2021}}
{{Election results
|cand1=George Akume|party1=People's Democratic Party (PDP)|votes1=681717
|cand2=Paul Unongo|party2=All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)|votes2=
|cand3=Moses Orshio Adasu|party3=Alliance for Democracy (AD)|votes3=
|cand4=Mike Mku|party4=United Nigeria People's Party (UNPP)|votes4=
|invalid=
|electorate=1755528
|source=Gamji, Africa Update, Dawodu
}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Benue State gubernatorial elections
Benue State gubernatorial election
Benue State gubernatorial election
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