The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2026, for bye-elections into the Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
The elections will fill the vacancies in the two constituencies, with the commission announcing the date as part of its timetable for the conduct of the polls.
The Sakwa State Constituency is in Zaki Local Government Area and comprises five wards – Sakwa, Gumal, Murmur North, Murmur South and Alangawar/Kafi/Larabawa – with 100 polling units.
The Disina State Constituency, located in Shira Local Government Area, also comprises five wards: Andubun, Sanbawal, Beli/Gagidiba, Zubo and Disina, with 95 polling units.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bauchi State, Umar Ibrahim, disclosed the election date on Wednesday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at the commission’s office in Bauchi.
According to the timetable, INEC will publish the notice of election on August 20, while political parties are expected to conduct their primaries and resolve disputes arising from them between August 21 and 25.
Online submission of nomination forms will begin on August 29 and close at 11:59 p.m. on September 2. The final list of candidates is expected to be published on September 8.
Campaigns will begin on September 9 and end at midnight on September 17, two days before the election. September 10 is the deadline for political parties to submit the names of their polling agents.
The Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of Wanzam Zaki, who represented the constituency and chaired the Bauchi State House of Assembly Committee on Budget and Appropriation. He died on June 21, 2026.
Disina State Constituency also became vacant after its occupant, Saleh Hodi, resigned to contest the Shira local government chairmanship election.
The REC urged political parties and candidates to comply with the electoral timetable and conduct their campaigns peacefully.
He also appealed to security agencies to provide adequate protection for voters, candidates, election officials, materials and other stakeholders during the polls.
