From Joseph Uchenna, Makurdi
A group known as Benue Equity and Justice Movement has called on the leadership of the judiciary to uphold transparency and impartiality in determination of the suit challenging the eligibility of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa in contesting the 2027 guber election.
The group, in a statement signed by its General Secretary Kingsley Asema and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday, alleged attempts by Aondoakaa and some unnamed legal actors to influence the outcome of the case, which is scheduled for judgment on November 16, 2026.
The group claimed that it had received information about alleged meetings involving Aondoakaa and some individuals over the pending litigation.
Frantic efforts to get reaction from the Media Consultant to the governorship candidate, Dr Terver Akase, to the statement, proved abortive as he did not pick calls, nor respond to whatsapp text messages.
Asema, however, did not provide any independently verifiable evidence to substantiate the allegations contained in the statement.
The group urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Justice of Nigeria to pay attention to the matter and ensure that the proceedings and eventual judgment are guided strictly by the law and evidence before the court.
It maintained that the case was an important test of public confidence in the judiciary, particularly given the controversy surrounding Aondoakaa’s eligibility to contest the 2027 governorship election.
The controversy stems from earlier court proceedings involving Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who served under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The group referred to a judgment of the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division, delivered on June 1, 2010, which upheld findings against Aondoakaa over his conduct in office and made declarations concerning his suitability to occupy public office.
Among the declarations contained in the appellate court’s judgment was that Aondoakaa had undermined the rule of law, the administration of justice and the integrity of the judiciary through certain official correspondences.
The group further cited a December 10, 2021 Supreme Court decision, which it said affirmed the earlier judgments.
The precise legal implications of the previous decisions for Aondoakaa’s eligibility to contest the 2027 governorship election are, however, among the issues requiring determination in the pending proceedings.
Meanwhile, the eligibility controversy has attracted other political and legal interventions.
In September, the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Damian Adagba, reportedly approached the court, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to remove Aondoakaa’s name from its official portal as the PDP governorship candidate.
Similarly, in a separate suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2152/2026, David Ejembi, Aondoaver Teryila, Joseph Okpanachi and Benedict Akaazua Orkume sued INEC, the PDP and Aondoakaa before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to restrain the former minister from presenting himself as the PDP governorship candidate.
Following arguments by counsel to the plaintiffs, INEC, the PDP and Aondoakaa, the court adjourned the matter to November 16, 2026, for judgment.
The outcome is expected to clarify the legal questions surrounding the PDP candidate’s eligibility and could have significant implications for the political contest ahead of the 2027 Benue governorship election.
