The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the final list of candidates cleared to contest the House of Representatives bye-election for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State.
The list was contained in a statement signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, and obtained in Gombe on Thursday.
According to the document, Yaya Alfa Muhammad is contesting under the Allied Peoples Party, APP, while Kallamu Usman Maijama’a is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Also on the list are Gaddafi Haruna of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and Abdulkarim Abdulmajib of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
The qualifications listed for the candidates include First School Leaving Certificate, Senior Secondary School Certificate, National Certificate in Education, bachelor’s degree and doctorate qualifications.
The Gombe bye-election became necessary following the death of the constituency’s former representative, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo.
Tongo died on June 12, 2026, at a hospital in Abuja after a brief illness. He represented the constituency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, until his death.
The House of Representatives subsequently declared the seat vacant on July 23, 2026. The declaration was made by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The action formally notified INEC of the vacancy and enabled the commission to begin preparations for a bye-election within the period prescribed by law.
The House leadership had also stressed the importance of restoring legislative representation for residents of Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.
Before his election to 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.
At the National Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Nigeria-United Arab Emirates Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House of Representatives.
Following his death, the Speaker, on behalf of the House leadership and members, expressed condolences to the Gombe State Government, constituents of the federal constituency and Tongo’s family.
The forthcoming bye-election is expected to determine his successor and restore representation for the constituency in the House of Representatives.
