Former Attorney-General Michael Aondoakaa has secured the PDP gubernatorial ticket for Benue State after ten other aspirants stepped down to endorse his candidacy following weeks of high-level consultations.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has officially selected a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was reached in Makurdi after a delicate and extensive consultation process that saw ten other aspirants voluntarily withdraw their bids to unanimously endorse his candidacy. This outcome follows weeks of intense deliberations involving various influential party blocs and high-ranking leaders aimed at unifying the party structure before the upcoming electoral cycle.
The consensus was facilitated by prominent party figures including the immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro. The process also involved the PDP State Chairman, Ezekiel Adaji, the State Executive Committee, and powerful regional groups known as the G-14 and G-9.
All aspirants formally ratified the decision and pledged their loyalty to the party’s choice, despite some initial reservations regarding zoning expressed by a former Commissioner for Education, Professor Dennis Ityavyar. Ultimately, all participants agreed that the move was necessary to prioritize party unity over individual ambitions.
Former Governor Ortom praised the aspirants for their maturity and sacrifice, describing the emergence of a consensus candidate as a vital step in the PDP’s strategy to reclaim power from the incumbent administration. He specifically advised Aondoakaa to adopt an inclusive approach by integrating his fellow aspirants into the core of his campaign organization.
Senator Abba Moro echoed these sentiments, characterizing the consensus as a difficult but essential decision to provide the state with purposeful leadership and calling on the people of Benue to support the party’s rescue mission.
In his acceptance speech, Aondoakaa expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the party stakeholders and his fellow competitors. He committed to launching an immediate reconciliation effort to mend any internal fractures and promised a responsive leadership style if elected in 2027.
The list of aspirants who stepped down included notable figures such as Reverend Tor Uja, Mr. Dominic Ucha, Mr. Tersoo Loko, and Professor Sebastine Hon (SAN), along with several other retired officials and party stalwarts. The PDP now moves forward with a unified front as it prepares for the competitive political landscape of the next year.
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