INEC Schedules By-Elections for September 19 in Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that five by-elections will take place on September 19, covering four states in Nigeria. Tunde Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, confirmed this during an interview on Tuesday, September 8.

The elections will include one federal constituency, specifically the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, which is filling a vacant seat. Additionally, four state-level elections will occur simultaneously in Bauchi, Delta, and Kano states.

In Bauchi, the constituencies affected are Disina and Sakwa, while Delta State will conduct a by-election in the Udu State Constituency, and Kano State will hold one in Dawakin Kudu. Oketola did not provide reasons for the vacancies, but such elections are typically called due to the death, resignation, or disqualification of a sitting lawmaker.

Furthermore, INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan warned about the threats posed by artificial intelligence-driven disinformation to the credibility of Nigeria's 2027 general elections during a conference in Abuja.