Voters in four Nigerian states are heading to the polls today, September 19, as the Independent National Electoral Commission conducts five legislative by elections to fill vacant seats.

The elections are taking place across Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano states and involve one federal constituency and four State House of Assembly constituencies.

The only federal contest is in the Gombe Kwami Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State.

Four state legislative elections are also being held in Disina and Sakwa constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu Constituency in Delta State and Dawakin Kudu Constituency in Kano State.

INEC says voting will take place at polling units across the affected constituencies from 8.30 a.m. until 2.30 p.m.

FIVE LEGISLATIVE SEATS TO BE FILLED

The elections will determine who fills five vacancies across the federal and state legislatures.

Gombe has the only House of Representatives contest, with voters in Gombe Kwami Funakaye choosing a new federal lawmaker.

Bauchi accounts for two of the four State House of Assembly elections, with voting taking place in Disina and Sakwa.

Voters in Udu in Delta State and Dawakin Kudu in Kano State will also choose new representatives for their respective state assemblies.

The vacancies arose under different circumstances, including deaths, resignation, defection and lawmakers leaving their seats to contest other political positions.

GOMBE VOTERS CHOOSE NEW FEDERAL LAWMAKER

The Gombe Kwami Funakaye Federal Constituency seat became vacant following the death of its representative, Yaya Bauchi Tongo, in June 2026.

Voters across the constituency will now decide who completes representation of the area in the House of Representatives.

The contest is the only federal legislative election among today's five polls.

TWO ELECTIONS HOLD IN BAUCHI

Bauchi has the largest number of contests taking place today, with two State House of Assembly seats being filled.

The Sakwa constituency became vacant following the death of its former representative.

The Disina seat became vacant after its lawmaker resigned to contest for a local government chairmanship position.

Eligible voters in both constituencies are therefore returning to the polls to elect replacements.

DELTA AND KANO ALSO VOTE

In Delta State, voters are choosing a representative for Udu State Constituency.

The seat was declared vacant after its former occupant, Collins Egbetamah, defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Kano's election is taking place in Dawakin Kudu State Constituency.

The seat became vacant after former state lawmaker Rabiu Shuaibu left the assembly to contest the Dawakin Kudu Warawa Federal Constituency seat.

He subsequently won the federal constituency by election held in June.

INEC CONDUCTS ANOTHER ELECTORAL TEST

The five elections come as INEC continues preparations for Nigeria's next national election cycle.

Although the contests are limited to individual constituencies, their conduct will place renewed attention on election administration, security, voter participation and the performance of political parties at the local level.

The results will determine representation in the affected constituencies rather than directly deciding national political control.

With parties already positioning themselves for the wider election cycle, however, the contests are also likely to attract political attention beyond the five constituencies involved.

INEC has advised eligible voters in the affected areas to participate at their designated polling units as the commission moves to fill the five vacant legislative seats.