By Ayo Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19 as the date for the conduct of 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.
Mr Tunde Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, who disclosed the development on Tuesday in Abuja, said the elections involve one federal constituency and four state constituencies spread across Gombe, Bauchi, Kano and Delta states.
According to Oketola, the federal legislative by-election will take place in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, while the state assembly elections will hold 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 fresh representation for constituents following vacancies that arose through the death or exit of lawmakers representing the affected constituencies. INEC has already directed political parties to conclude their nomination processes and comply strictly with the commission’s electoral timetable.
For the Gombe federal constituency, the by-election follows the death of the late House of Representatives member, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, prompting INEC to invoke constitutional provisions requiring the conduct of a fresh election to fill the vacant seat.
Similarly, the Bauchi State Assembly by-elections in Disina and Sakwa were scheduled after vacancies emerged in the constituencies, with INEC outlining timelines for party primaries, submission of nomination forms, publication of candidates’ lists and campaigns ahead of the September 19 polls.
The commission said campaigns for the by-elections will end before election day in accordance with the Electoral Act, while security agencies and other electoral stakeholders are expected to provide adequate security for 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 tenure 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 larger electoral contests.
