The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19, 2026 as date to conduct bye-election to fill Udu state constituency, a vacancy declared by the Delta State House of Assembly.
Sir Etekamba Udo Umoren, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, made the announcement on Thursday during a press briefing with journalists in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Emerald News reports that the Delta State House of Assembly on June 30, 2026, declared the seat for the Udu State Constituency vacant following the defection of Collins Egbetamah from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to reports, Egbetamah formally notified the house via a resignation letter dated June 19, 2026, stating he had left the APC on April 30, 2026.
In the briefing by the Delta State REC, INEC said the state INEC office is acting based on the letter received to fill the office as declared vacant by the Delta State House of Assembly.
Sir Umoren said the bye-election to fill the vacancy is in line with section 76 and 116 of the Nigerian Constitution as amended.
He said “we are all aware that the Delta state house of assembly has declared Udu state constituency vacant. INEC has been informed and is carrying out it’s constitutional duty to ensure that the vacancy is filled. Otherwise that constituency will be without a representative.
“The legislative year is still on and INEC is carrying out its responsibility to ensure that the vacancy is occupied. We have received the letter from our headquarters, directing us to prepare for the bye-election. The timetable has also been issued. Parties that will take part in the election will be informed by INEC headquarters.
“Primaries have been fixed. We are waiting for parties to send in their aspirants for the primaries.”
According to the timetable released by INEC, conduct of party primaries including resolution of disputes from primaries would hold between August 21 to 25.
Online submission of forms will be done between August 28 to September 2, 2026. The timetable also indicates that lady day for publication of forms EC9 and list of nominated candidates will be September 8.
The activity timetable also indicates that campaign by political parties will commence on September and end on September 17.
The bey-election is fixed for September 19, 2026.
The REC, Sir Umoren appealed to indigenes and residents of Udu local government to cooperate with INEC officials so that the bye-election could hold peacefully in the affected constituency.
For parties that are to field candidates for the bye-election, he said INEC would communicate the political parties.
He added that voters who are qualified to vote in this bye-election are those who voted in the 2023 general election.
