By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2026, for the conduct of five legislative by-elections across four states of the federation.
The elections will take place in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states and will cover one federal constituency and four state constituencies.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Tunde Oketola, disclosed the development in Abuja, explaining that the affected constituencies are the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State; Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State; Udu State Constituency in Delta State; and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State.
According to INEC’s official website, all four states are listed for the September 19, 2026 bye-elections, confirming the commission’s preparations for the polls.
In Gombe State, the election will be conducted in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives.
The seat became vacant following the death of the former representative, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, who died in June 2026 after a brief illness. INEC subsequently issued a timetable for the replacement election in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The Gombe election will cover three local government areas, 31 registration areas and 903 polling units, according to the commission’s preparations for the exercise. INEC has also assured stakeholders that it would provide a level playing field for all participating political parties and candidates.
In Bauchi State, voters will elect representatives for the Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies, while the Udu State Constituency will be contested in Delta State.
In Kano State, the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency will also go to the polls on the same day. The five contests therefore provide voters in the affected constituencies with an opportunity to elect new representatives to fill vacant legislative seats.
The commission’s timetable provides for political parties to conduct their primaries and nominate candidates within the stipulated period, with the final list of candidates published ahead of the elections.
For the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency election, INEC had scheduled the publication of the final list of nominated candidates for September 8, while campaigns were to commence on September 9 and end on September 17, two days before polling.
As of September 10, five candidates had been cleared for the Gombe federal constituency contest. They are Yaya Alfa Muhammed of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Kallamu Usman Mai’jama’a of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gaddafi Haruna of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Maigari Jungudo of the Labour Party (LP), and Abdulkarim Abdulmujib Kwami of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NDP), according to INEC’s Gombe office.
The development has intensified political activities in the affected constituencies, with parties and candidates expected to use the final days of the campaign to canvass for votes and mobilise supporters.
INEC urges compliance with electoral rules
The electoral commission has repeatedly called on political parties and candidates to strictly comply with the approved timetable and the provisions of the electoral law.
INEC’s election observer portal also shows that preparations for the September 2026 by-elections have been underway, including the accreditation process for eligible observer organisations.
The commission has also established an electronic platform for political parties to upload their polling agents for the September 19 elections, indicating that preparations are progressing ahead of election day.
The polling-agent platform covers the Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano bye-elections and was designed to facilitate the submission of party agents electronically.
With the elections involving five constituencies across four states, security agencies and other stakeholders are expected to work with INEC to ensure a peaceful and orderly exercise.
INEC has urged eligible voters in the affected constituencies to participate actively in the electoral process and exercise their civic responsibility peacefully and responsibly.
The September 19 polls will also provide another opportunity for INEC, political parties, security agencies, election observers and voters to demonstrate their preparedness for the larger electoral activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission has already listed the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027. �
The forthcoming by-elections are therefore expected to attract considerable political attention as parties seek to consolidate their influence in the affected constituencies ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
INEC has maintained that its objective is to conduct elections that are free, fair, credible and inclusive, while providing all participating political parties and candidates with a level playing field.
With campaigns entering their final days, attention is now shifting to September 19, when voters in the five constituencies will determine who takes over the vacant legislative seats.
