INEC Distributes Materials Ahead of Gombe By-Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission has distributed sensitive electoral materials to the three local government areas participating in Saturday’s Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election.

The materials were distributed on Friday, September 18, at the Central Bank of Nigeria premises in Gombe in the presence of political party agents, security personnel, officials of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and journalists.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, and INEC lists the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election among the elections taking place across four states on the date.

495,851 voters registered

INEC said 495,851 registered voters are expected to participate in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye constituency.

The constituency covers Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas. INEC’s preparations have included the distribution of electoral materials, training of election officials and security planning ahead of the poll.

The election follows a vacancy in the House of Representatives seat after the death of the lawmaker who previously represented the constituency.

INEC’s official election schedule confirms September 19 as the date for the by-election.

Materials moved to the LGAs

Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Muktar Gajiram, said the sensitive materials had been distributed to the relevant local government areas for onward deployment to polling units.

According to the REC, the distribution was carried out in the presence of relevant stakeholders as part of measures designed to promote transparency and strengthen confidence in the electoral process.

Gajiram also explained that endorsements and signatures placed on the sensitive materials formed part of INEC’s authentication procedure.

The process is intended to establish that the materials being deployed were duly certified for the election.

Reports indicate that voting will take place across 903 polling units in 31 registration areas within the three local government areas.

Security concerns remain a major issue

The movement of electoral materials comes as INEC and security agencies maintain heightened attention on the security situation in the constituency.

Earlier in the week, the Gombe State REC identified Gombe and Funakaye LGAs as high electoral-risk areas, citing concerns about political thuggery.

Kwami was also identified as a security concern because of recent attacks attributed to herders and the area’s proximity to Borno State.

INEC said the risk assessment was intended to help security agencies identify vulnerabilities and plan preventive measures. The commission also cautioned that security responses should remain lawful and evidence-based.

The commission has urged security personnel to protect voters, election officials and electoral materials without interfering with citizens’ rights to participate in the election.

Police restrict movement on election day

The Gombe State Police Command has announced additional security arrangements for Saturday’s poll.

The command said personnel and operational assets had been deployed across Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye LGAs, including at INEC offices, polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations.

Movement and commercial activities will be restricted in the three local government areas from 6am to 6pm on Saturday, except for essential services.

The police said people engaged in essential services would still not be permitted to use sirens, unregistered vehicles or vehicles with covered number plates.

The command also stated that only statutory security agencies operating under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security would provide security coverage during the election.

State-owned security outfits, private security guards, quasi-security organisations and vigilante groups were excluded from election security duties, according to the police.

Parties urged to respect Peace Accord

With the sensitive materials now moving towards polling locations, INEC has called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the Peace Accord signed at the Gombe State Police Command.

Gajiram described peaceful conduct as a shared responsibility involving political parties, candidates, voters, security agencies and election officials.

The police have separately warned against political thuggery, the circulation of fake news and the possession or display of weapons around polling locations.

What happens next

The distribution of sensitive materials marks one of the final logistical stages before voting begins.

The materials are expected to move from the local government areas to individual polling units ahead of voting on Saturday.

For INEC, the immediate priorities are the secure deployment of election materials, the arrival of trained personnel at polling locations and the orderly conduct of voting.

For security agencies, the focus will be on protecting voters and officials while enforcing the movement restrictions and responding to any incidents that could disrupt the poll.

The Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye by-election is therefore entering its final preparation stage with nearly half a million registered voters expected to participate.

INEC’s official schedule confirms that voting is set for September 19, while the commission and security agencies have appealed to all participants to maintain peace and follow the rules governing the election.