The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a new round of by-elections that will determine representatives in five vacant legislative seats across four states, setting September 19 as the date for the polls.
The elections will cover one federal constituency and four state constituencies spread across Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano states, according to information released by the commission.
The announcement places attention on the electoral process beyond general elections, highlighting the role of by-elections in restoring representation when legislative seats become vacant before the end of a political term.
INEC’s decision was disclosed by Tunde Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The scheduled exercise will involve voters in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, where residents will choose a new member to represent them at the federal level.
At the state level, voters in four constituencies will also participate in the exercise. These include Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu State Constituency in Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State.
The commission did not provide additional details in the announcement regarding the circumstances that created the vacancies or the number of candidates participating in the contests.
By-elections are conducted by INEC to fill legislative positions that become vacant due to reasons recognised under Nigeria’s electoral framework. They allow affected constituencies to regain representation rather than remain without elected lawmakers until the next general election cycle.
The September 19 polls will therefore serve as an important test of INEC’s ability to manage electoral activities outside the main election timetable, including voter mobilisation, logistics and the conduct of peaceful voting processes.
Nigeria’s electoral calendar typically includes activities beyond presidential and governorship elections. While general elections attract the greatest national attention, constituency-level elections can have direct consequences for communities because they determine who speaks for them in legislative chambers.
The affected constituencies in Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano represent different regions with varying political and social dynamics, making the elections significant for residents who will directly decide their next representatives.
INEC’s announcement comes as political activities gradually increase ahead of the 2027 general elections, although the commission’s latest statement specifically concerns only the scheduled by-elections.
The commission has in recent years conducted several supplementary and by-elections across the country as part of its constitutional responsibility to organise elections and maintain democratic representation.
For voters in the five affected constituencies, the September exercise will provide an opportunity to select lawmakers who will serve the remainder of the existing legislative terms.
The success of the elections will depend on factors including voter participation, compliance with electoral guidelines by political actors and effective coordination among stakeholders involved in the process.
As Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, constituency elections remain a key part of maintaining continuous representation at both federal and state levels.