INEC Fixes September 19 for Five Bye-Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2026, for five legislative bye-elections across Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano states.

The elections comprise one federal constituency and four State House of Assembly seats, according to the commission.

In Gombe State, the election will be held in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, where the seat became vacant following the death of its former representative, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, in June 2026. INEC subsequently released a timetable for the election, including party primaries and the nomination of candidates.

Bauchi State will have two State House of Assembly elections. They are the Disina State Constituency in Shira Local Government Area and the Sakwa State Constituency in Zaki Local Government Area.

The Disina seat became vacant after its former occupant, Saleh Hodi, resigned to pursue a chairmanship contest. The Sakwa seat was declared vacant following the death of its former representative, Wanzam Zaki, on June 21, 2026.

In Delta State, the Udu State Constituency will also go to the polls. The seat was declared vacant by the Delta State House of Assembly after its former occupant, Collins Egbetamah, defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress. The Assembly cited Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution in declaring the vacancy.

Kano’s election will take place in Dawakin Kudu State Constituency. The vacancy followed the election of the former state lawmaker, Rabiu Shuaibu, to the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in a June 2026 bye-election. The federal seat had become vacant following the death of its former occupant, Muhammad Hassan Danjuma.

For the Gombe federal constituency election, INEC’s published timetable provided for party primaries between August 21 and 25, while the final list of nominated candidates was scheduled for publication on September 8. The campaign period is scheduled to run from September 9 to September 17.

The five elections will fill legislative vacancies created by deaths, resignation, defection and the election of a serving state legislator to another legislative seat.