PDP defends Aondoakaa over disqualification claim
From Hope Abah, Makurdi The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Benue State chapter has dismissed speculations that its 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), is constitutionally disqualified from contesting the election. The party described the allegations as baseless, politically motivated and without legal backing. In a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Bright […]
From Hope Abah, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Benue State chapter has dismissed speculations that its 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), is constitutionally disqualified from contesting the election.
The party described the allegations as baseless, politically motivated and without legal backing.
In a statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, the PDP said the campaign against Aondoakaa was being orchestrated by political opponents unsettled by his growing acceptance across the state.
The party maintained that Aondoakaa remains fully qualified under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to contest and hold the office of Governor if elected.
The party noted that Aondoakaa served as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice without any criminal conviction or indictment that could disqualify him from seeking elective office.
It added that since leaving office in 2010, he has neither been arraigned before any court nor indicted by any legally constituted panel or tribunal.
The PDP also recalled that Aondoakaa contested the party’s governorship primary in 2015 and later participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in 2022 alongside Governor Hyacinth Alia without any legal challenge to his eligibility.
The opposition party said, although Aondoakaa challenged the outcome of the 2022 APC primary up to the Court of Appeal, he later withdrew plans to approach the Supreme Court following intervention of the party’s leadership.
The statement also maintained that the constitutional period for filing any pre-election suit challenging Aondoakaa’s nomination expired long ago, stressing that Section 285(14) of the Constitution prescribes a mandatory 14-day window for instituting such actions.
The party further cited Sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution, saying they clearly outline the qualifications and disqualifications for governorship candidates and that no political group or individual can create additional grounds outside those constitutional provisions.
The PDP urged the public to disregard what it described as false narratives and propaganda targeted at its candidate, insisting that the 2027 governorship election would be decided by the people of Benue State through the ballot rather than “manufactured allegations or social media campaigns.”