Benue 2027: PDP Reaffirms Confidence in Aondoakaa, Dismisses Disqualification Claims as Baseless
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has reaffirmed its confidence in its 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, dismissing allegations that he is constitutionally disqualified from contesting the state’s highest office.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, the PDP described the claims as “false, legally bankrupt and politically motivated,” accusing unnamed opponents of orchestrating a campaign of misinformation aimed at undermining the party’s candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
According to the party, the allegation that Aondoakaa is ineligible to contest the election has no basis under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and reflects what it called the growing desperation of political opponents unsettled by the former Attorney General’s popularity across Benue State.
https://voxnews.com.ng/aondoakaa-camp-rejects-disqualification-claims-benue-2027/
The PDP maintained that Aondoakaa remains “eminently qualified” to contest the governorship election and, if elected, to serve as Governor of Benue State.
The statement highlighted Aondoakaa’s public service career, noting that he served as Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and has never been convicted of any offence that would disqualify him from seeking elective office.
The party further stated that since leaving office in 2010, Aondoakaa has neither been arraigned before any court on criminal charges nor indicted by any judicial or administrative panel established under Nigerian law.
The PDP also recalled that Aondoakaa participated in the party’s governorship primary in 2015 and later contested the APC governorship primary in 2022 alongside the incumbent Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, without any legal challenge questioning his constitutional eligibility.
According to the statement, Aondoakaa subsequently challenged the outcome of the 2022 APC governorship primary up to the Court of Appeal before deciding against proceeding to the Supreme Court following the intervention of APC leaders.
The party argued that if there had been any constitutional grounds for disqualifying him, such issues would have been raised during those earlier electoral contests.
The PDP also relied on constitutional provisions governing pre-election disputes, arguing that any legal challenge to a candidate’s qualification must be filed within the period prescribed by law.
It noted that Aondoakaa emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidate on May 24, 2026, and contended that the constitutional timeframe for instituting any pre-election action challenging his nomination has elapsed.
According to the party, no amount of political commentary, social media campaigns or public speculation can revive a matter that has become statute-barred under the Constitution.
The statement further referenced Sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution, which set out the qualifications and grounds for disqualification of candidates seeking election as governor, insisting that no individual or political group can create additional requirements outside the Constitution.
“The Constitution is supreme. Political propaganda cannot alter it,” the party stated.
The PDP urged the public to disregard what it described as false narratives and focus instead on issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
It maintained that the election would ultimately be decided by the electorate through the ballot rather than by “manufactured allegations or speculative legal theories.”
Reaffirming its support for Aondoakaa, the party described him as a candidate with the integrity, competence, experience and constitutional qualifications required to provide leadership for Benue State.
It added that the PDP would continue to campaign on its agenda of improving security, reviving the state’s economy, promoting agricultural transformation, accelerating industrial development and delivering responsive governance.
The statement further declared that neither propaganda nor intimidation would deter the party or its governorship candidate from pursuing victory in the 2027 election.
