By Ibrahim Ibrahim
The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YBSIEC) has fixed Saturday, June 6, 2026, for the conduct of local government elections across the state’s 17 local government areas.
The commission announced the date on Wednesday in Damaturu during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by security agencies, leaders of political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council, and members of the media.
Speaking at the meeting, Permanent Member I of YBSIEC, Mohammed Nguru, said the election timetable had been approved by Governor Mai Mala Buni and was aimed at strengthening democratic governance at the grassroots.
Nguru described the stakeholders’ meeting as crucial to the success of the polls, stressing that credible elections require cooperation and shared responsibility among electoral officials, security agencies, political parties and the media.
He disclosed that the commission was finalising comprehensive election guidelines for political parties, detailing procedures, timelines and requirements, and urged parties to study and comply with them to ensure an orderly process.
Nguru encouraged political parties to field credible and capable candidates, noting that leadership at the local government level directly affects service delivery, accountability and community development.
He outlined eligibility criteria for aspirants, stating that chairmanship candidates must be at least 30 years old, while councillorship candidates must be a minimum of 25 years.
According to him, all positions are open to eligible residents without gender discrimination, provided aspirants are of sound mind, not bankrupt and are bona fide residents of their communities.
Nguru added that a minimum qualification of a school certificate or its equivalent is required for all aspirants, while all candidates would undergo mandatory security screening to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
He also announced nomination fees of ₦300,000 for chairmanship, ₦250,000 for vice-chairmanship and ₦200,000 for councillorship positions, assuring that YBSIEC would fully undertake, organise and supervise the elections.
The YBSIEC official pledged that the elections would be free, fair, credible and peaceful, and appealed to all stakeholders and qualified citizens to cooperate and participate actively in the process.
