INEC Releases Final List For Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye By-Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates cleared to contest the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election in Gombe State.

According to reports, the list was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and made available to journalists in Gombe on Thursday.

Four political parties are listed to contest the vacant seat, with Yaya Alfa Muhammad representing the Allied Peoples Party (APP), Kallamu Usman Maijama’a flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gaddafi Haruna contesting under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Abdulkarim Abdulmajib representing the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The electoral commission also included the academic qualifications of the candidates, which range from First School Leaving Certificate and Senior Secondary School Certificate to National Certificate in Education, bachelor’s degree and doctorate qualifications.

The by-election follows the death of the former representative of the constituency, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, who died on June 12, 2026, in an Abuja hospital after a brief illness.

Tongo was elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency until his death.

Following his death, the House of Representatives declared the seat vacant on July 23, 2026, with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, formally notifying INEC of the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The declaration paved the way for INEC to organise a by-election to provide continued representation for residents of Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.

Before joining the National Assembly, Tongo served as Chairman of Funakaye Local Government Area, Special Adviser to the Gombe State Government and a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly.

He later represented the federal constituency in the House of Representatives, where he also served as Chairman of the Nigeria-United Arab Emirates Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The by-election is scheduled to hold on September 19, 2026, according to INEC’s official election calendar.