INEC has fixed September 19 for Bauchi bye-elections in Sakwa and Disina, with parties to complete nominations and campaigns ahead of the polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2026, for bye-elections in Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State, following the emergence of vacancies in the two seats.
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The Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, announced the date on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security in Bauchi.
The election will cover Sakwa State Constituency in Zaki Local Government Area and Disina State Constituency in Shira Local Government Area.
INEC is expected to issue the formal notice of election on Thursday, August 20, marking the beginning of the timetable for the Bauchi bye-elections.
Political parties are scheduled to conduct their primaries between August 21 and August 25, giving them only a few days to select their candidates.
The commission will open its online portal for the submission of nomination forms on August 29. The process will close at 11:59pm on September 2.
INEC is expected to publish the final list of candidates on September 8, after which the parties will move into the final stage of their campaigns.
Political parties have until September 10 to submit the names of their polling agents, while campaigning must end at midnight on September 17, two days before voting.
Sakwa Constituency has 100 polling units spread across five wards, while Disina Constituency has 95 polling units across five wards.
Ibrahim urged political parties and their candidates to respect the electoral timetable and guidelines, warning against activities capable of undermining a peaceful exercise.
The security arrangements will also be closely watched as the campaigns gather momentum.
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, who co-chaired the security meeting, assured political parties and other stakeholders that the police would remain neutral and professional throughout the electoral process.
Aliyu also urged parties to provide their campaign schedules in advance so that the police could make adequate security arrangements.
The two vacancies arose from different circumstances.
The Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of Wanzam Zaki on June 21, 2026. Zaki had also served as chairman of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Committee on Budget and Appropriation.
In Disina, the vacancy followed the resignation of Saleh Hodi, who represented the constituency and served as Majority Leader of the House.
Hodi resigned his Assembly seat to contest the Shira Local Government chairmanship election.
The September 19 polls will therefore determine the new representatives for the two constituencies and restore their representation in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
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With the timetable already set, political parties now face a compressed electoral calendar, making compliance with INEC’s deadlines and effective coordination with security agencies particularly important ahead of voting day.
