There is palpable fear in both camps of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, as candidates in the two camps were on Wednesday, June 24, handed Certificates of Return as the party’s Governorship candidates in the state.
Both Dr Emmanuel Agbo and Chief Mike Apndoakaa have received their certificates, signalling readiness for the 2027 Benue Governor’s election.
While Dr Agbo was handed his certificate by his factional National Chairman, Taminu Turaki, SAN, Chief Aondoakaa was presented with his certificate by Ambassador Abdulrahman Muhammed.
Turaki, SAN, is backed by the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), while Ambassador Muhammed is backed by Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister.
Meanwhile, the factional Secretary of PDP in the state, Mr Dan Nyikwagh, has said Dr Agbo “has never been the governorship candidate” of the PDP in the state.
In a swift response, Dr Agbo has dismissed the claims by the Wike faction in Benue State.
His campaign team says Dr Agbo is not perturbed by the desperate efforts to get Chief Aondoakaa, SAN, on the ballot, noting that the former Attorney-General is only chasing a shadow.
As it stands, it is not clear which candidate will appear on the portal of the Independent National Elecroral Commission (INEC) as the umbrella party’s candidate for the 2027 Benue Governorship election.
