The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed sensitive electoral materials ahead of Saturday’s bye-election for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency.

The materials were distributed on Friday at the Central Bank of Nigeria premises in Gombe State in the presence of political party agents, security personnel, CBN officials and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Gombe State, Umar Mukhtar Gajiram, said the materials had been delivered to the three local government areas that make up the federal constituency.

He explained that the materials would subsequently be moved to the various polling units before voting begins on Saturday.

Gajiram said the distribution was conducted openly in the presence of relevant stakeholders to promote transparency and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

He also explained that INEC’s endorsements and signatures on the sensitive materials were part of the authentication process designed to confirm that only approved and certified electoral materials were deployed.

The REC appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to comply with the Peace Accord signed ahead of the election at the Gombe State Police Command.

He urged all stakeholders to maintain peace and ensure that the election is conducted in an orderly and credible manner.

Gajiram stressed that peaceful elections require the cooperation of all participants and expressed hope that the political parties and their candidates would honour the commitments contained in the Peace Accord.

The Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026.

A total of 495,851 registered voters are expected to participate in the election across Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.

The election follows the vacancy created in the federal constituency after the death of its former representative, Yaya Bauchi Tongo. INEC previously scheduled the poll for September 19 and said the constituency comprises 903 polling units across three local government areas.

Security preparations have also been intensified ahead of the exercise, with the Gombe State Police Command announcing deployments across polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations.

The police have urged voters and political actors to avoid violence, political thuggery, the circulation of false information and the possession or display of weapons at polling locations.