Drama as two PDP governorship candidates receive Certificates of Return in Benue

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened on Wednesday as two rival candidates for the 2027 Benue State governorship election separately received Certificates of Return from different factions of the party.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, received his Certificate of Return at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, after emerging the governorship candidate of the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Aondoakaa was accompanied by his running mate, Dr Oyije Ochaekiti Ogbenjuwa, as well as prominent PDP leaders and stakeholders from Benue State.

Speaking after receiving the certificate, Aondoakaa thanked the leadership and members of the party for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to justify the mandate by uniting the PDP and leading it to victory in the 2027 governorship election.

However, in a parallel development, the rival faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), also presented a Certificate of Return to Dr Emmanuel Agbo, Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, after declaring him the winner of its governorship primary.

While the Wike-backed faction held its certificate presentation at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, the venue of the ceremony organised by the Turaki-led faction could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The parallel presentation of Certificates of Return marks the latest chapter in the protracted leadership crisis that has divided the PDP into rival camps, with both factions laying claim to the party’s structure and leadership.

With both Aondoakaa and Agbo now holding Certificates of Return from their respective factions, attention has shifted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which is yet to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 Benue State governorship election.