Aondoakaa Eligible for 2027 Governorship Poll, Media Aide Dismisses Disqualification Claims
By Yahaya Idris
The media consultant to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has dismissed claims that the former Attorney-General of the Federation was barred by the Supreme Court from holding public office, describing the allegation as false and a misrepresentation of settled law.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Terver Akase, PhD, maintained that the legal position regarding Aondoakaa’s eligibility had already been clarified by the Supreme Court, insisting that political opponents were relying on what he described as selective interpretations of previous court decisions.
Akase said the apex court, in a 2021 judgment delivered by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, held that “the issue of qualification for holding the office of the second respondent or any other public office does not arise.”
According to the statement, the “second respondent” referred to in the judgment was Chief Aondoakaa, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The media consultant accused critics of citing an earlier 2010 decision while ignoring what he described as the Supreme Court’s clarification in the 2021 judgment.
He further argued that Sections 177 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly outline the qualifications and grounds for disqualification of governorship candidates, adding that no additional conditions could be imposed outside the constitutional provisions.
Akase also contended that issues relating to the qualification of candidates are pre-election matters regulated by Section 285(9) of the Constitution, which prescribes a 14-day period for instituting legal actions.
He noted that Aondoakaa emerged as the PDP governorship candidate on May 24, 2026, received his Certificate of Return on June 24, 2026, and was subsequently submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in line with the Electoral Act.
According to him, the constitutional period for challenging the nomination has elapsed, leaving no legal basis for any fresh action on the issue.
“The Supreme Court has consistently held that constitutional timelines in pre-election matters are mandatory and cannot be extended. Once the prescribed period expires, no court has jurisdiction to entertain such claims,” the statement said.
Akase described ongoing discussions questioning Aondoakaa’s eligibility as “political theatre rather than legal argument,” insisting there was no pending case or constitutional process capable of disqualifying the PDP candidate from the 2027 governorship election.
He urged political actors to shift attention to issues affecting the state, including security, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment and economic development.
The statement added that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa remains the duly nominated and recognised governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2027 Benue governorship election, urging political opponents to prepare for the contest through democratic means.
“The law has spoken. The Constitution has spoken. The Supreme Court has spoken. The people of Benue will speak next at the ballot box,” Akase stated.