Barrister Babakura Kaka chairs the APC screening panel for Yobe House of Assembly hopefuls. Speaking Tuesday in Damaturu, he explained how the committee vets candidates.
The nature of court cases will shape clearance decisions, Kaka told reporters at the Presidential Lodge. Different cases get different treatment, he stressed.
Aspirants must meet constitutional, electoral, and party standards to proceed to the 2027 polls. They need Nigerian citizenship and at least a school-leaving certificate to qualify.
Ex-convicts cannot be cleared under any circumstance. Party sponsorship is mandatory for all candidates seeking the committee's approval.
Candidates must buy nomination and expression of interest forms. They also submit proof of payment alongside valid identification documents.
Kaka addressed the thorny issue of pending litigation against some aspirants. Family disputes or marital cases won't automatically disqualify someone from running, he noted.
However, EFCC and ICPC cases follow stricter criteria. Conviction is the deciding factor in corruption-related matters, according to him.
"If the person is not an ex-convict, he may still qualify," Kaka told journalists. Pending cases alone don't seal an aspirant's fate, he indicated.
Hon. Ya'u Usman Dachia, one of the candidates screened, praised the process as fair and open.
He's seeking re-election for the fourth time, he revealed to reporters.
Dachia expressed optimism about winning his seat again. His confidence stems from past electoral victories, sources close to him say.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Jajimaji from Karasuwa Local Government Area also commended the screening framework. He said equal opportunity was given to every aspirant participating.
Such fairness eliminates complaints about bias, Jajimaji argued. Whether the primary becomes consensus-based or competitive, he noted, the transparent process prevents allegations.
The screening exercise continues as more aspirants file through the vetting process. Party officials remain committed to the established guidelines throughout the exercise.
