Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Alliance for Truth and Democracy has accused the Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia of making desperate plot to stop his major challenger in the 2027 Governorship election in the state, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN.
According to a press statement issued to journalists this morning by the president of the advocacy group, Comrade Jerome Zoho, Governor Alia is presently sponsoring one of his kinsmen who is the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Damian Iorhen Adagba to challenge the candidacy of Chief Aondoakaa in court.
The statement reads in parts: ‘As the political reality of the 2027 governorship election in Benue State becomes increasingly clear, there are disturbing indications that Governor Hyacinth Alia and members of his inner circle have resorted to desperate measures aimed at stopping the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, from appearing on the ballot.
“Information available suggests that a young man identified as Damian Iorhen Adagba, a member of Governor Alia’s social media team from Alia’s local government – Vandeikya, has suddenly emerged as the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Curiously, a young man who, until recently, had no known political structure or financial capacity to sustain a governorship ambition is now being provided with vehicles, security personnel and logistical support immediately after securing the APM ticket”
The advocacy group pressed further that sources have indicated that Governor Alia and some of his political associates yesterday held discussions on how to confront the growing popularity and acceptance of Chief Aondoakaa across the state, stressing that their alleged conclusion was that since defeating Aondoakaa politically would be difficult, an alternative route would be to initiate litigation aimed at preventing him from participating in the election.
“According to the information available, Damian Adagba is expected to serve as the vehicle for this legal adventure” the statement noted.
According to the group, this scenario represents a misformed abuse of the judicial process and a clear attempt to achieve through the courts what cannot be achieved at the ballot box.
“What makes the alleged plot even more astonishing is that those behind it appear to have ignored settled constitutional and judicial authorities on the issues they seek to raise.
“First, the law is clear on who possesses the legal standing to challenge the nomination of a political party candidate. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that nomination and sponsorship of candidates are internal affairs of political parties and that only an aspirant who participated in the primary election of that political party can challenge the outcome of that process” the group said.
The Alliance for Truth and Democracy continued that Damian Adagba was not an aspirant in the PDP governorship primary that produced Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as the party’s candidate on 24 May 2026, noting that he therefore lacks the locus standi required to challenge that nomination.
The statement reads further that “Second, those who continue to rely on earlier judicial decisions while deliberately ignoring subsequent Supreme Court pronouncements are engaging in a calculated attempt to mislead the public. The apex court has since clarified the legal position, leaving no ambiguity as to who may legitimately institute such actions.
“Third, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is explicit on the qualifications and disqualifications for the office of Governor.
“Sections 177 and 182 comprehensively set out the conditions for qualification and disqualification. The Constitution does not permit anyone to create additional grounds for disqualification outside those expressly provided by law. Where the Constitution has spoken clearly, political opponents cannot manufacture new conditions simply because they fear a candidate’s popularity.
“Even more importantly, Section 285(9) of the Constitution imposes a strict fourteen-day limitation period for the filing of pre-election matters. That timeline is not discretionary; it is mandatory”
According to the group, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, emerged as the duly nominated PDP governorship candidate on 24 May 2026. “He received his Certificate of Return on 24 June 2026, and his nomination was duly communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in accordance with the Electoral Act. His name has since been uploaded to the INEC portal” it stressed.
The group stated that the constitutional timeframe for challenging those processes has long elapsed, noting that what Benue people are witnessing, therefore, appears not to be a genuine legal contest but an orchestrated political strategy driven by fear of a formidable opponent.
The group however advised that Governor Alia and those around him should understand that elections are won through performance, ideas, credibility and the confidence of the people, not through proxy litigations, manufactured controversies or attempts to deny voters the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate.
“If anyone believes Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, is not qualified to govern Benue State, the proper place to test that proposition is at the ballot box in 2027, not through desperate schemes designed to subvert the democratic process” the statement said further.