PDP dismisses claims Aondoakaa is barred from public office

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has rejected claims circulating in some media reports and on social media that its 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), is barred by a Supreme Court judgment from occupying public office.

The party described the allegations as false, politically motivated and aimed at distracting both the party and its candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

In a statement issued by the Benue State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Bright Yima Antyo, the party alleged that political opponents were behind what it called a sustained smear campaign against Aondoakaa.

The statement read: “The latest falsehood being peddled is the baseless claim that our candidate is disqualified from holding office of Governor of Benue State as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This 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.

“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.”

The party maintained that Aondoakaa’s record in public service is well documented and open to public scrutiny, stressing that he served as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice without any conviction or legal finding that would disqualify him from contesting for governor.

“He 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(s) that should disqualified 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.”

The PDP also recalled that Aondoakaa participated in previous governorship contests, including the PDP primary in 2015 and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in 2022 alongside Governor Hyacinth Alia and other aspirants.

“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 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.

“Even more ruinous to their propaganda is the clear provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) as enshrined in Section 285 (14)(9) of the Constitution, which leaves no room for speculation as to when to file an action against a person disqualified to contest election into political offices created by the Constitution for electoral contest; defined as pre-election dispute.

It provides further that every pre-election matter shall be filed not later than fourteen (14) days from the date of the occurrence of the event, decision or action complained of. That constitutional timeline is mandatory, immutable and jurisdictional. Once the 14 period expires, every court in Nigeria is stripped of jurisdiction to entertain such claims.

“Chief Aondoakaa emerged as the PDP governorship candidate following the party’s primary election conducted on 24 May 2026.”

According to the party, the constitutional deadline for filing any pre-election case challenging Aondoakaa’s nomination has elapsed, making any such action legally untenable.

“No amount of media propaganda, social media manipulations or politically motivated commentary can revive a cause of action that has already become statute-barred by the Constitution itself.

“Furthermore, Sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution comprehensively set out the qualification and disqualification criteria for election as Governor and the grounds upon which a person may be disqualified to contest for the office.

The law is settled that where the Constitution expressly provides the conditions for qualification or disqualification, no individual, political party or pressure group can manufacture additional grounds outside those constitutional provisions.

The Constitution is supreme. Political propaganda cannot alter it.

“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.

“Those who have their candidates should articulate their programmes and allow the electorate to make a democratic choice. Resorting to manufactured allegations against a candidate whose nomination is firmly rooted in the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria only exposes the bankruptcy of their political arguments.

“The Peoples Democratic Party remains solidly rooted in its confidence in Chief Michael Kaase 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.

“No amount of sponsored falsehood, intimidation or propaganda will distract our candidate or our party from engaging the people of Benue State with our vision for revived security, economic recovery, agricultural transformation, industrial development and responsive governance.”

The PDP reaffirmed that it remains fully prepared for the 2027 governorship election, insisting that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN) remains its duly nominated governorship candidate in Benue State.