Benue PDP governorship crisis deepens as rival factions issue parallel Certificates of Return for 2027 governorship election candidates
The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated sharply on Wednesday as two rival factions of the party separately issued Certificates of Return to different governorship candidates for the 2027 Benue State election, exposing a widening internal split within the opposition party.
Also read: Sanwo-Olu Hails State Police Approval as Major Security Breakthrough
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, received his Certificate of Return at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, after emerging as the governorship candidate of a faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Chief Aondoakaa was accompanied by his running mate, Dr Oyije Ochaekiti Ogbenjuwa, alongside senior party stakeholders and supporters from Benue State who witnessed the presentation ceremony.
Speaking shortly after receiving the certificate, Chief Aondoakaa expressed gratitude to the factional leadership for what he described as a mandate of confidence. He pledged to work towards unifying party members and positioning the PDP for victory in the 2027 governorship election.
“This responsibility is a call to service, and I will not betray the trust placed in me,” he said, while urging unity among party stakeholders despite ongoing disagreements.
However, in a parallel development that underscored the deepening rift, a rival faction of the PDP led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, also presented a Certificate of Return to Dr Emmanuel Agbo, Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, after declaring him winner of its own governorship primary.
The Turaki-led faction maintained that its process reflected the authentic will of party delegates, insisting that Dr Agbo remains its legitimate candidate for the 2027 governorship race.
Both presentations reportedly took place separately under heavily divided party structures, with each faction asserting control over the PDP’s state machinery in Benue.
The conflicting claims have further intensified uncertainty within the party, as members and supporters are left divided over which leadership structure holds legitimacy.
Political observers say the development highlights the ongoing internal struggle for control of the PDP between rival national power blocs, a situation that has continued to affect cohesion ahead of major elections.
With both Chief Aondoakaa and Dr Agbo now laying claim to the governorship ticket from different factions, attention has shifted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is expected to determine the official candidate list ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also read: Ebonyi Governance Row Deepens as Analyst Slams Nwifuru’s Record Ahead of 2027
The parallel Certificates of Return mark another flashpoint in the PDP’s prolonged internal crisis, raising concerns over its preparedness for a united electoral front in Benue State.
