The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has stated that the sustained campaign of misinformation and mischief being orchestrated by political opponents and desperate politicians against its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, will have no negative impact.
The PDP in a statement, reiterated that the claim that its candidate is barred from holding public office is baseless and has no legal foundation.
The statement signed by Bright Yima Antyo, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP noted that the narrative has no constitutional basis and is legally bankrupt.
“It betrays the desperation of those who have become terrified by the overwhelming acceptance Chief Aondoakaa continues to enjoy across Benue State” the PDP said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states unequivocally that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, remains eminently qualified to contest the 2027 governorship election and to hold the office of Governor of Benue State, if elected by the people” it said.
It highlighted that Chief Aondoakaa “served Nigeria at the highest level with distinction as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Throughout his career in public and private lives, no court has convicted him of any crime that should disqualify him from holding the office of Governor of Benue State. Since leaving office in 2010, Chief Aondoakaa has never been arraigned on criminal charges before any court of law or Tribunal. Similarly, he has never been indicted by any administrative Panel or Tribunal established by law.”
“Indeed, Chief Aondoakaa contested the PDP governorship primary in 2015. He also contested APC Governorship primary in 2022 with Governor Hyacinth Alia and several others. On each occasion, every aspirant and interested party had the opportunity to challenge his disqualification if there had been any legal basis for doing so. None did. No lawsuit was filed. No court was invited to pronounce him disqualified because there was simply no legal basis for such a claim. Rather Chief Aondoakaa challenged the result of the 2022 APC Governorship primary that produced Governor Alia as its then candidate in court up to the Court of Appeal. Aondoakaa then declined to file an appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria against the 2022 APC Governorship primary outcome due to the intervention of the leadership of APC” the PDP explained, adding that “the PDP therefore finds it curious that individuals who remained silent throughout those electoral cycles have suddenly discovered imaginary legal impediments only after Chief Aondoakaa emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.”
The PDP therefore urges members of the public to disregard the avalanche of false narratives being circulated by individuals whose only strategy appears to be character assassination in place of meaningful political engagement.
The 2027 governorship election will not be determined by skewed social media propaganda or wishful legal theories. It will be decided by the people of Benue State through the ballot.
