INEC announces date for Sakwa, Disina bye-elections in Bauchi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19, 2026, as the date for bye-elections to fill two vacant seats in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

The polls will be held in Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki Local Government Area, and Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA.

The Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, announced the date on Wednesday at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security in Bauchi.

He said the commission would issue the notice of election on August 20, ahead of political party primaries scheduled for August 21 to 25.

Ibrahim said the submission of nomination forms would open online on August 29 and end at 11:59 p.m. on September 2. The final list of candidates is expected to be published on September 8.

He added that parties had until September 10 to submit the names of their polling agents, while campaigns would close by midnight on September 17.

The REC disclosed that Sakwa Constituency has 100 polling units spread across five wards, while Disina has 95 polling units across five wards.

He called on political parties and candidates to adhere to the electoral guidelines and avoid actions capable of disrupting the exercise.

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, who co-chaired the meeting, assured stakeholders that the command would remain neutral and professional throughout the electoral process.

Aliyu asked political parties to provide their campaign schedules ahead of time to enable the police to make appropriate security arrangements.

DAILY POST recalls that the Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of its occupant, Wanzam Zaki, who also chaired the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation. He died on June 21, 2026.

In Disina, the vacancy followed the resignation of Saleh Hodi, the former representative of the constituency and Majority Leader of the House, to contest the Shira Local Government chairmanship election.