Yobe State Starts Candidate Screening for Local Elections

The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission has started screening candidates for chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and councillorship positions. This is ahead of the local government elections in the state.

Dr Ibrahim Yabani, the Executive Chairman of the commission, shared this information on Tuesday. He spoke during a press briefing at the SIEC conference hall in Damaturu. He also outlined the schedule of activities leading to the elections.

Yabani mentioned that the screening process will take place from September 1 to September 7, 2026. This is in line with the commission’s guidelines.

He explained that councillorship candidates are being screened across the three zones in the state. Zone A is in Damaturu, Zone B is in Potiskum, while Zone C includes Bade and Nguru Local Government Areas.

Chairmanship and vice-chairmanship candidates are being screened at the SIEC headquarters in Damaturu. The SIEC chairman emphasized that they are following constitutional provisions during the screening process.

He said, "The screening guidelines are very clear; it is adopted from the Constitution. The 1999 Constitution as amended clearly gives us the qualifications of who is going to stand and qualify to stand for the election for Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Councilors in any of the Local Government Areas in Nigeria."

Yabani added, "Our screening is based on law, and the parameters are approved by the Constitution."

He also announced that political parties can start their campaigns from September 18 to September 25, 2026. Yabani mentioned that the commission has trained electoral officers in all 17 local government areas of the state for the elections.

According to him, these officers are ready to manage the electoral process effectively. He also revealed that election materials will be sent out on September 24, just before the polls.

The commission has set September 26, 2026, as the date for the local government elections across the state.