2027: PDP denies Akume’s role in Aondoakaa’s emergence

The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of sponsoring propaganda to deflect attention from what it described as the failures of his administration, urging him to focus on governance rather than dragging the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, into the party’s internal affairs.

The party was reacting to a report alleging that Senator Akume was plotting to impose former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, the PDP dismissed the report as “mischievous,” “sponsored,” and devoid of credible evidence.

According to the party, Aondoakaa emerged as its governorship candidate through the PDP’s internal democratic process, insisting that no external political figure influenced the outcome.

“The report is an insult to the Peoples Democratic Party, the oldest surviving political party in Nigeria. Chief Aondoakaa did not emerge through the sponsorship of Senator Akume or any external political actor. He emerged through the internal democratic processes of the PDP,” the statement read.

The PDP also described as “ridiculous” claims that Senator Akume was backing PDP candidates or plotting to impeach Governor Alia, noting that no evidence had been presented to support such allegations.

The opposition party argued that Governor Alia’s administration was grappling with growing public dissatisfaction over insecurity, unfulfilled promises and alleged poor utilisation of increased federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy.

According to the PDP, rather than engaging in political attacks, the governor should explain what it described as the widening gap between campaign promises and government performance.

The party also criticised the ongoing construction of the High Level Junction underpass in Makurdi, alleging that the project had raised concerns over flooding due to what it called inadequate drainage planning.

The statement further claimed that several political associates and appointees of Governor Alia had continued to distance themselves from his political camp because of dissatisfaction with the administration.

On the controversy surrounding compensation for victims of the Zaki-Biam military invasion, the PDP maintained that the matter involved complex legal processes spanning several administrations and could not be blamed on any single individual.

The party alleged that the claims contained in the report mirrored narratives that had recently been promoted by Governor Alia’s supporters, suggesting a coordinated campaign against Aondoakaa and other opposition figures.

“The growing challenge confronting Governor Alia is not Senator Akume or the PDP. The challenge is insecurity, farmers who cannot return to their lands, unemployed youths and Benue people asking questions about governance and the utilisation of public resources,” the statement added.

The PDP insisted it remained focused on providing what it described as credible leadership and practical solutions to the state’s security and development challenges ahead of the 2027 governorship election.