The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected assertions that their 2027 governorship nominee, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), is ineligible to run. The party dismissed these claims as deceptive and politically driven, stating they lack any constitutional validity.
State Publicity Secretary Bright Antyo issued a statement on Saturday, clarifying that Aondoakaa meets all criteria set by the 1999 Constitution. He noted that the candidate has never been convicted of a crime, indicted by an official panel, or arraigned on criminal charges since his tenure as Attorney General ended in 2010. Antyo highlighted that Aondoakaa’s previous participation in the 2015 and 2022 party primaries occurred without any legal challenges to his qualifications.
The party further asserted that any legal attempts to challenge the nomination are now barred by the 14-day statutory limit for pre-election lawsuits as outlined in Section 285(14)(9) of the Constitution. Because Aondoakaa won the primary on May 24, 2026, the party maintains that courts no longer have the jurisdiction to hear such disputes.
Addressing the electorate, the PDP urged voters to ignore rumors and social media propaganda. They emphasized that their campaign will prioritize economic recovery, security, industrial growth, and agricultural development. The party expressed full confidence in Aondoakaa’s integrity and leadership capacity to steer the state forward.
