The 2027 Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has described as false, misleading and desperate propaganda, a report claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may drop him from the governorship race.
Aondoakaa was reacting to a publication titled: ‘INEC may drop Aondoakaa from Benue guber race as former AGF begs court for more time to file defence.’
In a statement issued yesterday in Makurdi by his Media Assistant, James Ian, the former Attorney General of the Federation said the report was founded on speculation, falsehood and wishful thinking.
He said while the publication ordinarily deserved no response, it became necessary to set the records straight to prevent the public from being misled.
According to him, the claim that he “begged” the court for more time to file a defence is a reckless distortion of court proceedings, as the matter was not ripe for substantive hearing because all parties had not been duly served.
”The suggestion that he sought indulgence because he was unable to defend himself is nothing more than a fabrication designed to create a false impression of panic where none exists,” the statement said.
Aondoakaa also dismissed the claim that INEC may withdraw his candidature, describing it as entirely speculative and unsupported by any judicial pronouncement.
”No court has made such an order, and no competent authority has taken any action remotely suggesting such a possibility. The headline was crafted solely to mislead the public and manufacture apprehension,” he said.
He alleged that the individuals behind the suit are neither members of the PDP nor governorship candidates in Benue State and lack any legitimate stake in the nomination process of the party, describing them as willing tools of those unsettled by the acceptance of the Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa ticket.
The PDP candidate stated that he has never been convicted by any court for fraud, dishonesty or any offence that would disqualify him from seeking public office, adding that throughout his career as AGF he served at the highest levels of government.
He said the sponsors of the report are terrified by the momentum of his campaign and have resorted to manufacturing legal and media distractions to achieve through propaganda what they cannot achieve at the ballot, urging the public to be reminded that the mere filing of a lawsuit against a candidate does not automatically invalidate the candidate’s nomination or disqualify him from an election.
He cited the example of Governor Hyacinth Alia who, he said, faced several legal challenges before and after the 2023 elections, including matters relating to his disqualification as APC candidate, explaining that after the cases went through judicial processes he came out victorious.
Aondoakaa said the wave of frivolous lawsuits against him only confirms that his opponents are uncertain of their prospects in 2027 and are searching for judicial shortcuts.
He urged them to prepare to present their records and programmes to the Benue people instead of relying on sponsored litigation, stressing that the election will be decided by the electorate and not by political mercenaries.
The PDP governorship candidate assured that he would always remain focused on offering Benue people a credible alternative anchored on security, economic revival and responsible governance, pointing out that no amount of propaganda or blackmail will distract him from that mission.