Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has described the by-election for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency as well organised and peaceful, commending the turnout of voters.
Yahaya made the assessment after casting his ballot at his polling unit in Jekadafari Ward, Gombe Local Government Area, on Saturday.
The Governor said the enthusiasm displayed by voters was encouraging despite the election being a by-election.
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“The election is well organised and very peaceful. You can see that the turnout is very, very good. I’m happy that people are very enthusiastic despite the fact that it is a by-election,” Governor Yahaya said.
He also expressed confidence in the performance of his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing its acceptance among voters to what he described as development recorded under his administration.
Yahaya said reports reaching him from other parts of the constituency had indicated that voting was proceeding smoothly across Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas.
He urged voters, political parties and other stakeholders to maintain the peaceful atmosphere throughout the remaining stages of the electoral process, noting that the conduct of the by-election could provide useful experience ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, security personnel maintained visibility patrols across polling units and collation centres in the three Local Government Areas, with the overall situation remaining calm and under close monitoring.
Professor Umar Adam, who observed the polls at his Baba Adamu Shugaba Unit in Bakin Kasuwa, Daban Fulani, Kwami Local Government Area, also described the voting process as successful and peaceful.
Professor Adam said voters whose identities were successfully verified were accredited and allowed to vote, adding that he observed no intimidation of opposition supporters during the process.
The by-election is being conducted across 903 polling units in Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Areas to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives following the death of the former representative, Yaya Bauchi Tongo.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election, Musa Kallamu, also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the poll, describing the situation across Kwami, Gombe and Funakaye as encouraging.
Kallamu said his assessment of the ongoing electoral process had been positive, particularly with regard to the preparations undertaken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, both male and female voters were turning out and complying with the electoral process, which he described as a positive development during the by-election.
