The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates cleared to participate in the forthcoming House of Representatives bye-election for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State.
The list was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and made available in Gombe on Thursday.
According to the document, Yaya Alfa Muhammad will contest under the Allied Peoples Party (APP), while Kallamu Usman Maijama’a is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Gaddafi Haruna is representing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), while Abdulkarim Abdulmajib is the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate.
The INEC document also listed the educational qualifications submitted by the candidates, which range from First School Leaving Certificate and Senior Secondary School Certificate to National Certificate in Education, bachelor’s degrees and doctorate degrees.
The bye-election became necessary following the death of the former representative of the constituency, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, who passed away on June 12, 2026, at a hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.
Following his death, the House of Representatives officially declared the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye seat vacant on July 23, 2026.
The declaration was made by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The formal declaration communicated the vacancy to INEC and set the stage for the electoral commission to organise a bye-election within the timeframe provided by law.
The House leadership had emphasised the need to restore legislative representation for residents of Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas through the electoral process.
Before his death, Tongo represented the constituency under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and served as Chairman of the Nigeria-United Arab Emirates Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House.
His previous political positions included 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 moved to the National Assembly, where he served as the representative of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency until his death.
Following the lawmaker’s 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 will determine the next representative for the constituency after the completion of the electoral process.
