The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Benue State chapter has announced that former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), has emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 elections.
A statement issued by the Benue PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, on Sunday said Aondoakaa emerged from a pool of 11 aspirants through a consensus process “accepted and affirmed by all his co-contestants.”
According to the statement, “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 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,” nevertheless accepted the process and pledged his support for the candidate.
“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 said.
In separate remarks, Ortom and Abba Moro both hailed the sense of solidarity, selflessness, and loyalty to the party shown by the aspirants.
Ortom charged the aspirants to maintain the spirit and, at all times, place the interests of the state above all other considerations, with the cardinal objective of unseating the incumbent administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia in the 2027 elections.
The former governor also enjoined the PDP governorship candidate to carry all his co-aspirants along in the composition of his campaign structures and enlist their partnership towards securing victory in the coming polls.
The Senate Minority Leader, on his part, expressed satisfaction with the process, which he described as necessary, though difficult, in fulfilling the sacred duty of providing leadership for the people of Benue State.
He stressed that PDP faithful, and indeed the people of Benue, must embrace the mission to rescue the state.
Chief Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), in his acceptance speech, pledged to move quickly to close ranks within the party and bind its membership and leadership structures into a formidable force that will unseat the Alia administration in the forthcoming elections.
ENDS
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