Benue 2027: Michael Aondoakaa Clinches PDP Ticket Through Consensus

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Former Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State for the 2027 elections.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the PDP State Publicity Secretary in Benue, Bright Antyo, noting that Aondoakaa emerged ahead of 11 other aspirants through a consensus process that was accepted and endorsed by all contestants.
According to the statement, the selection process lasted over three weeks, during which party leaders carried out extensive consultations and deliberations before arriving at the decision.
Key stakeholders involved in the exercise included the leader of the Benue PDP and immediate past governor, Chief Samuel Ortom; Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro; State Chairman of the party, Ezekiel Adaji; members of the state executive committee; the State Assembly caucus; leaders of the G-14 and G-9 elders’ groups; as well as other selected stakeholders.
Aondoakaa’s emergence was by unanimous decision and was accepted by all 10 co-contestants, each of whom affirmed confidence in both the process and its outcome.
One of the aspirants and former Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, acknowledged that while the zoning arrangement did not favour his expectation, he accepted the outcome and pledged full support to the candidate.
Similarly, another aspirant and former two-term member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dominic Ucha, congratulated Aondoakaa and assured him of his backing to ensure victory for the party.
Other aspirants, including Rev. Tor Uja, Dr. Tersoo Loko, Prof. Sebastine Hon (SAN), Dr. Oyije Ogbenjua, Ode Ojowu, Engr. Tor Tiv Ato, Simon Ater, and Chief Bemgba Iortyom, also endorsed Aondoakaa’s candidacy and pledged their support ahead of the elections.
In their separate remarks, Chief Ortom and Senator Moro commended the aspirants for their unity, selflessness, and loyalty to the party.
Ortom urged them to sustain the spirit of cooperation and prioritize the interest of the state, with the aim of unseating the current administration led by Governor Hyacinth Alia in 2027.
He further advised the PDP candidate to carry all aspirants along in forming his campaign structure and to work closely with them to secure victory at the polls.
Senator Moro also expressed satisfaction with the consensus process, describing it as challenging but necessary in fulfilling the responsibility of leadership selection for the people of Benue State.
He called on party faithful and the people of the state to unite behind the mission of reclaiming power from the present administration in 2027.
In his acceptance speech, Chief Aondoakaa pledged to foster unity within the party and consolidate its structures into a formidable force capable of winning the upcoming election.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the PDP, describing it as the most successful political party in Nigeria, and assured that he would honour the mandate of the people of Benue State if elected in 2027.