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MAKURDI – The Individuals’s Democratic Social gathering (PDP) in Benue State has declared that the desperation of the opposition to make sure that its candidate for governor within the 2027 election, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), doesn’t contest the election is a sign that they’re terrified by the overwhelming acceptance he has loved throughout the state.
The celebration additionally noticed that the concern of the opposition candidate squaring up with Aondoakaa on the election floor is why they’ve give you a number of narratives to have him disqualified.
The PDP additionally said that even earlier than the celebration’s candidate emerged, different events had the chance to problem his earlier emergence, significantly when he contested within the primaries towards Governor Hyacinth Alia in 2022, if there had been any authorized foundation to take action.
However the PDP, in a press release signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Shiny Yima Antyo, and made obtainable to newsmen in Makurdi on Sunday, mentioned, on the contrary, it was Aondoakaa that challenged the results of the 2022 APC major that produced Governor Alia as its candidate in court docket.
He chided the opposition for resorting to “manufactured allegations” towards Aondoakaa, whose nomination is rooted within the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution, “exposing the chapter of their political arguments.”
The PDP spokesman mentioned, “Certainly, Chief Aondoakaa contested the PDP governorship major in 2015. He additionally contested the APC governorship major in 2022 with Governor Hyacinth Alia and several other others.
“On every event, each aspirant and celebration had the chance to problem his disqualification if there had been any authorized foundation for doing so. None did. No lawsuit was filed. No court docket was invited to pronounce him disqualified as a result of there was merely no authorized foundation for such a declare.
“Somewhat, Chief Aondoakaa challenged the results of the 2022 APC Governorship major that produced Governor Alia as its then candidate in court docket as much as the Court of Appeal. Aondoakaa then declined to file an enchantment to the Supreme Court of Nigeria towards the 2022 APC Governorship major final result as a result of intervention of the management of APC.”
He additional defined that “The PDP, in Benue State, has watched with amusement the sustained marketing campaign of misinformation and mischief being orchestrated by political opponents and determined politicians towards its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN.
“The newest falsehood being peddled is the baseless declare that our candidate is disqualified from holding the workplace of Governor of Benue State as enshrined within the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“This narrative has no constitutional foundation and is legally bankrupt. It betrays the desperation of those that have develop into terrified by the overwhelming acceptance Chief Aondoakaa continues to get pleasure from throughout Benue State.
“PDP subsequently finds it curious that people who remained silent all through these electoral cycles have instantly found imaginary authorized impediments solely after Chief Aondoakaa emerged because the celebration’s (PDP’s) candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
“Much more ruinous to their propaganda is the clear provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) as enshrined in Part 285 (14)(9), which leaves no room for hypothesis as to when to file an motion towards an individual disqualified to contest election into political workplaces created by the Constitution for electoral contest; outlined as a pre-election dispute.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states unequivocally that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, stays eminently certified to contest the 2027 governorship election and to carry the workplace of Governor of Benue State, if elected by the individuals.”
Antyo additional said that “Chief Aondoakaa’s public service file is well-known. He served Nigeria on the highest degree with distinction because the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
“All through his profession in private and non-private lives, no court docket has convicted him of any crime(s) that ought to disqualify him from holding the workplace of Governor of Benue State.
“Since leaving workplace in 2010, Chief Aondoakaa has by no means been arraigned on prison prices earlier than any court docket of regulation or Tribunal. Equally, he has by no means been indicted by any administrative Panel or Tribunal established by regulation.”
“The constitutional window for instituting any pre-election motion difficult his nomination on grounds of disqualification has, if such ever existed, lengthy closed. No quantity of media propaganda, social media manipulations or politically motivated commentary can revive a explanation for motion that has already develop into statute-barred by the Constitution itself.
“The regulation is settled that the place the Constitution expressly offers the situations for qualification or disqualification, no particular person, political celebration or strain group can manufacture further grounds outdoors these constitutional provisions. The Constitution is supreme. Political propaganda can not alter it.”
Subsequently, he suggested, “Those that have their candidates ought to articulate their programmes and permit the citizens to make a democratic selection. Resorting to manufactured allegations towards a candidate whose nomination is firmly rooted within the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria solely exposes the chapter of their political arguments.
“The PDP stays solidly rooted in its confidence in Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN. The celebration is satisfied that he possesses the integrity, competence, expertise and constitutional qualification required to offer the purposeful management that Benue state urgently wants.
“No quantity of sponsored falsehood, intimidation or propaganda will distract our candidate or our celebration from partaking the individuals of Benue State with our imaginative and prescient for revived safety, financial restoration, agricultural transformation, industrial improvement and responsive governance.
“The PDP is prepared for the 2027 election and Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, is the celebration’s governorship candidate in Benue State!”, Antyo declared.
