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By Ayo Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19 as the date for holding five by-elections in four states, as the electoral body moves to fill vacancies created in both the House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.
Tunde Oketola, Chief Press Officer to the President of INEC, who disclosed the development on Tuesday in Abuja, said the election involves one federal constituency and four state constituencies spread across Gombe, Bauchi, Kano and Delta states.
According to Oketola, the federal legislative elections will be held in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, while the state assembly elections will be held in Disina and Sakwa Constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu State Constituency in Delta State and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State.
The elections are expected to provide new representation to voters following vacancies that have arisen due to the death or departure of legislators representing the affected constituencies. INEC has already instructed political parties to conclude the nomination process and strictly adhere to the commission’s election calendar.
For Gombe Federal Constituency, the by-election follows the death of the late member of the House of Representatives, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, prompting INEC to invoke constitutional provisions requiring the holding of fresh elections to fill the vacant seat.
Similarly, the Bauchi State Assembly by-elections in Disina and Sakwa were scheduled after vacancies emerged in constituencies, with INEC outlining the timelines for party primaries, submission of nomination forms, release of candidate lists and campaigns ahead of the September 19 elections.
The commission said campaigns for the by-elections will end before polling day in accordance with the electoral law, while security agencies and other election stakeholders are expected to provide adequate security to voters, election officials and party agents.
By-elections are constitutionally mandated elections conducted to fill legislative vacancies that occur before the expiration of an elected official’s term due to death, resignation, or other circumstances. Unlike nationwide general elections, they are limited to affected constituencies but often serve as important political tests for parties ahead of broader electoral contests.
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