Benue 2027: Aondoakaa’s Camp Dismisses Disqualification Claims

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The persistent attempt by some political opponents to convince the public that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), has been barred by the Supreme Court from holding public office is false and a deliberate distortion of settled law.

The Media Consultant to Aondoakaa, Terver Akase, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi on Friday. He maintained that no amount of propaganda can alter the contents of a court judgment or amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that the Supreme Court had already settled the matter.
According to Akase, the apex court, in a judgment delivered in 2021 by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, clearly stated that the issue of qualification for holding the office of the second respondent or any other public office did not arise. He added that the concurring judgment of any Supreme Court justice carries the same force of law as the lead judgment. He explained that the “second respondent” referred to in the judgment was Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration.
Akase said those who continue to rely on the earlier 2010 decision while ignoring the Supreme Court’s clarification in its 2021 judgment are deliberately misleading the public by promoting an issue that has already been resolved by the apex court.
He further stated that Sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution clearly outline the grounds for qualification and disqualification of governorship candidates, noting that no additional grounds can be introduced outside the constitutional provisions. According to him, constitutional interpretation does not permit extraneous considerations where the Constitution has expressly addressed an issue.
The statement added that even if the allegations raised by political opponents were relevant, the Constitution does not impose a permanent ban from contesting the office of Governor under the circumstances being alleged. It further noted that any legal challenge relating to a candidate’s qualification is a pre-election matter and, under Section 285(9) of the Constitution, must be filed within 14 days of the event being challenged.
Akase explained that Chief Aondoakaa emerged as the PDP governorship candidate on May 24, 2026, received his Certificate of Return on June 24, 2026, and his name was subsequently submitted to INEC in line with the Electoral Act. He said the constitutional time frame for filing any pre-election challenge had since expired and could not be revived by any court.
He maintained that those issuing statements and circulating claims of Aondoakaa’s disqualification are engaging in political theatre rather than legal argument, insisting they have no pending case, no subsisting legal remedy, and no constitutional avenue to pursue the matter.
Akase said the only remaining contest is at the ballot box, reminding those behind the alleged false narrative that courts decide cases based on pleadings, evidence and the law, not political propaganda. He urged political actors to focus on issues affecting Benue people, including security, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and economic development, rather than recycling legal arguments that have either been settled by the Supreme Court or are constitutionally statute-barred.
He reaffirmed that Chief Michael Aondoakaa remains the duly nominated and validly recognised PDP governorship candidate for the 2027 Benue governorship election and called on political opponents to stop seeking what he described as imaginary constitutional shortcuts and instead prepare for the democratic contest ahead.