Benue PDP Insists Aondoakaa Eligible for 2027 Governorship Race

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state has vehemently refuted claims that its candidate for the 2027 governorship election, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), is constitutionally ineligible to contest. The party dismissed the allegations as false, misleading, and politically motivated, intended to undermine Aondoakaa's growing support.

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The reports being circulated by political opponents had no legal or constitutional basis and were aimed at undermining the growing support for Aondoakaa across the state.

According to the PDP's State Publicity Secretary, Bright Antyo, Aondoakaa remains fully qualified under Nigeria's 1999 Constitution. Antyo asserted that no court has convicted Aondoakaa of any offense that would bar him from seeking office. He highlighted that the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has not faced criminal charges or administrative indictments since leaving office in 2010. Antyo also pointed out that Aondoakaa previously ran in PDP and APC governorship primaries in 2015 and 2022, respectively, without any eligibility challenges.

The PDP further argued that any pre-election lawsuit challenging Aondoakaa's nomination would be time-barred, referencing Section 285(14)(9) of the Constitution, which mandates a 14-day window for such matters. The party emphasized that Aondoakaa emerged as the PDP governorship candidate following the primary election held on May 24, 2026. The PDP also invoked Sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution, which define the qualifications and disqualifications for governorship candidates, stressing that only the Constitution, not political parties or individuals, can establish disqualification grounds.

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The constitutional timeline is mandatory, immutable and jurisdictional. Once the 14-day period expires, every court in Nigeria is stripped of jurisdiction to entertain such claims.

Urging the public to disregard what it termed an "avalanche of false narratives," the PDP stated that the 2027 election would be decided by voters, not by "skewed social media propaganda or wishful legal theories." The party reaffirmed its confidence in Aondoakaa's integrity, competence, and experience, believing he possesses the qualifications for purposeful leadership in Benue State. The PDP pledged to focus its campaign on key areas including security, economic recovery, agricultural transformation, industrial development, and responsive governance.

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The Peoples Democratic Party remains solidly rooted in its confidence in Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN. The party is convinced that he possesses the integrity, competence, experience and constitutional qualification required to provide the purposeful leadership that Benue State urgently needs.