The Independent National Electoral Commission National Commissioner in charge of the North-East, Rear Admiral Jamila Abubakar-Sadiq (retd.), on Saturday described the ongoing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election as peaceful, but expressed concern over the low turnout of voters in some polling units.
Abubakar-Sadiq, who is in Gombe State to observe the election, said the electoral process had commenced smoothly, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines and other equipment functioning as expected in the polling units visited.
The National Commissioner, whose area of responsibility covers Bauchi and Gombe states, spoke while monitoring the exercise across some polling units in the constituency on Saturday.
She said, “The conduct of the election, the environment is peaceful. People are out in some places, but I can tell you what I observe is a low turnout of voters.”
According to her, voting commenced at 8:30am, but only a few voters had arrived at most of the polling units visited by the monitoring team at the early stage of the exercise.
“Voting starts at 8:30. For most of the polling units that we went, there are few voters. But here, I can see a lot of voters here. Probably this is the time they are coming out of their houses,” she said.
Asked whether transportation, distance to polling units or lack of awareness could be responsible for the low turnout, the INEC National Commissioner ruled out the possibilities based on her observations.
“Well, I don’t think so. None of the above. I think they are just probably taking their time to come out,” she said.
Abubakar-Sadiq added, “I don’t think it’s… all the challenges that you’ve listed, it’s not a challenge to them. They are just taking their time. You can see they are just coming out now.”
She, however, noted that it was too early to draw a final conclusion on voter turnout, as more voters could still arrive later in the day.
On the performance of INEC officials and electoral technology, the National Commissioner said the process was running smoothly in all the polling units visited.
“The electoral officers are fine, you can see them. The machines are okay. The BVAS are working. They are using the instruments that are provided to them. All the instruments are working,” she said.
She added, “No failure anywhere. All of the units that we visited, they are all functioning as expected.”
Meanwhile, voters at some polling units expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, particularly the timely arrival of INEC officials.
At EC 30B, EC 30A and EC 30A(I) in Hassan Central, voting had commenced when the monitoring team visited the polling locations.
Speaking after casting her ballot, Sadiya Mohammed said she was pleased to have participated in the electoral process.
“I have voted and happy you have participated. We hope the people’s choice will emerge,” she said.
Similarly, at EC 30C and EC 30B Gombe library area and Chief Magistrate Court Mohammed Dantiti, another voter commended INEC officials for commencing the exercise on time.
“I have voted, the INEC officials came out in good time. I’m confident that the exercise will produce the best man for the job,” he said.
The bye-election is being conducted to fill the vacant seat previously occupied by Yaya Tongo, who died on June 12, 2026.
The Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency has 495,851 registered voters across Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.
Five political parties are participating in the election, according to the final list released by INEC.
The parties include the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Allied Peoples Party, All Progressives Congress, Allied Peoples Movement and Labour Party.
The candidates listed by INEC include Gaddafi Haruna, Yaya Alfa Mohammed, Kallamu Usman Maijama’a, Maigari Jungudo and Abdulkarim Abdulmujib Kwami.
The election is being conducted across 903 Polling Units in the three Local Government Areas.
Yahaya, others laud process in Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election, describing the exercise as peaceful and well organised.
Yahaya, who spoke after casting his vote at Yahaya Umaru 010 polling unit, said the turnout was encouraging despite the election being a bye-election.
He said, “The process is as usual well arranged and very peaceful and you can see the turnout is good. I’m happy that people are enthusiastic despite that this is a bye-election. People are happy and I know my party is going to make it.”
The governor said reports from the three local government areas making up the federal constituency indicated that the election was progressing smoothly.
He added, “It’s about the same report everywhere, people are happy. It’s only three local governments, Gombe, Kwami, Funakaye, and I have gotten reports that the election is going on well and it will end well.”
Similarly, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Jamilu Gwamna, commended officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of the election.
Gwamna, who voted at Saidu Mangu 007 polling unit, said the conduct of the bye-election had boosted his confidence in the preparations for the 2027 general elections.
“This gives us confidence that the upcoming election in 2027 will be organised in a much better way. We are very satisfied with the current arrangement. More grease to the elbow.
“As far as I know, there are no hitches. The participation is satisfactory,” Gwamna said.
Also speaking, the APC candidate for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, Engr. Usman Kallamu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the poll.
Kallamu, who spoke at Duban Fulani, said reports from other parts of the constituency indicated that the election was progressing smoothly.
He said, “Honestly speaking, when I look at what is going on in Duban Fulani here and I called other places like Gombe, Kwami, Funakaye, I told myself that the way the election is going on is very satisfactory.”
On his expectation, Kallamu said he was confident of victory, adding that the turnout at his polling location was encouraging.
“My expectation is to win. As of now, I’m very comfortable with what they have done so far. The turnout is okay as now. Look around you, you will see those in queue,” he added.