The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has accused political interests aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia of attempting to distract its 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, through a court action challenging his eligibility to contest the election.
The party made the allegation in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima, following the filing of a suit by four Benue indigenes seeking to prevent Aondoakaa from contesting the 2027 governorship election.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2152/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP and Aondoakaa. The plaintiffs are David Ejembi, Aondoaver Teryila, Joseph Okpanachi and Benedict Orkume. They are asking the court to restrain Aondoakaa from contesting and prevent the PDP from sponsoring him.
The plaintiffs based their case on a previous Supreme Court judgment involving Aondoakaa and argued that the decision has implications for his eligibility to hold public office. The matter is pending before the Federal High Court, which has not yet determined the substantive issues raised in the suit.
Reacting to the development, the Benue PDP said the plaintiffs were not members of the party and did not participate in its May 24, 2026 governorship primary that produced Aondoakaa as its candidate.
“Ordinarily, we would not dignify such distractions with a response. However, for the benefit of the public, it is necessary to state that the plaintiffs are not members of the PDP and did not participate in the party’s consensus governorship primary election of May 24, 2026, which validly produced Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as the party’s candidate,” the statement said.
The party said it would refrain from commenting on the merits of the case because it was before the court, but alleged that the litigation reflected growing political opposition to Aondoakaa.
“We are, however, not unaware of the growing desperation among certain political interests who appear uncomfortable with the widespread acceptance and momentum of the PDP candidate across Benue State,” the party said.
The PDP maintained that Aondoakaa satisfied the constitutional requirements for election as governor, citing Sections 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The party further argued that the constitutional provisions on qualification and disqualification from elective office should not be extended through political interpretation.
“The Constitution is clear on the grounds for disqualification from elective office, and no individual or political group can expand those provisions through conjecture or political convenience,” it said.
The party said it remained focused on campaigning on issues affecting residents of Benue State, particularly insecurity, which it accused the Alia administration of failing to adequately address.
The PDP also rejected what it described as attempts to distract its candidate through what it termed “political theatrics masquerading as genuine public interest litigation.”
The legal challenge comes amid heightened political activity in Benue ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The Federal High Court has granted an application for substituted service on Aondoakaa after the plaintiffs’ lawyer told the court that he had been unable to serve him personally. The case has been adjourned until September 29 for further mention.
The court proceedings will determine the legal questions raised by the plaintiffs, while the competing political claims surrounding the case remain matters of partisan interpretation.