- Safiu Kehinde
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 Benue State Election.
Aondoakaa reportedly edged past 10 other aspirants to emerge as the consensus candidate of the party
This was made known in a statement issued by the Benue PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, on Sunday.
According to Antyo, the emergence of Aondoakaa as the consensus candidate was accepted and affirmed by all his co-contestants.
The consensus process which took over three weeks had the active participation of the party’s stakeholders in the state, including former Benue governor, Samuel Ortom,
“In an exercise which spanned over three weeks, the leadership of the party sieved through the pool of aspirants, adopting meticulous consultations and deliberations to arrive at its decision.”
“Benue PDP leader and immediate past governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom; Senate Minority Leader, Patrick Abba Moro; State Chairman of the party, Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji; and the state executive committee, together with the party’s State Assembly caucus, the leadership of the G-14 and G-9 groups of elders, as well as selected stakeholders, all participated in the process.
“The emergence of Chief Aondoakaa was by unanimous decision and was accepted by all his 10 co-contestants, each of whom spoke in affirmation of the process and its outcome.” The statement partly read.
According to reports, Antyo further said that former Commissioner of Education in the state and a 2023 aspirant, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, while observing that the issue of zoning had not gone as he expected.
Dennis however accepted the process and pledged his support for the candidate.
Other aspirants also pledged their support for Aondoakaa.
“Aspirant in 2023 and two-term member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dominic Ucha, accepted the outcome of the consensus process, congratulated the candidate, and pledged his support towards ensuring that the party wins in the coming polls.
“Former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja; former Executive Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Dr. Tersoo Loko; legal luminary, Prof. Sebastine Hon (SAN); international security consultant, Dr. Oyije Ogbenjua; retired Naval Commander Ode Ojowu; international engineering consultant, Engr. Tor Tiv Ato; business mogul, Simon Ater; and former State Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Benue State, Chief Bemgba Iortyom (Esq.), all accepted the emergence of the former Attorney General and pledged to work with him to ensure victory for the party in 2027,” the statement added.