By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
The legal teams representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Benue State governorship candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, have urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit challenging his candidacy for the 2027 governorship election.
The lawyers argued that the suit lacked competence and urged the court to dismiss it in limine, a legal expression meaning to terminate a case at the outset without proceeding to a full determination of its merits.
The court, after hearing arguments from counsel to the parties, reserved judgment for November 16, 2026.
Aondoakaa’s legal team, led by Prof. Anthony Ijohor, SAN, adopted the candidate’s preliminary objection, maintaining that the suit was not competent to proceed before the court.
Other Senior Advocates of Nigeria on the legal team included Chiesonu I. Okpoko, Anthony A. Malik and Mohammed Said Diri.
Other members of the team were AT Kohol, Michael Gusa, Aleichenu Ogwuche, AJ Apera, Matthew Onoja, DD Asema and HT Ijohor.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2152/2026, was instituted by David Ejembi, Aondoaver Teryila,
Joseph Okpanachi and Benedict Akaazua Orkume against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP and Aondoakaa.
At the proceedings, counsel to the PDP, CT Mue, Esq., also adopted the party’s preliminary objection and urged the court to strike out the suit on grounds of incompetence.
However, counsel to the plaintiffs, Feng Pwajok, Esq., adopted the plaintiffs’ counter-addresses and written address in opposition to the preliminary objections raised by the defendants.
In response, Prof. Ijohor adopted Aondoakaa’s further affidavit and reply on points of law, while Mue adopted the PDP’s reply on points of law.
On the substantive suit, counsel to the plaintiffs adopted their originating processes, while lawyers representing the defendants adopted their respective court processes.
The plaintiffs’ counsel subsequently adopted further affidavits and replies on points of law filed in response to the submissions made by the PDP and Aondoakaa.
Following the adoption of the parties’ processes and the presentation of their respective arguments, the court adjourned the matter to November 16, 2026, for judgment.
Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is the PDP’s nominated candidate for the 2027 Benue State governorship election.
The court’s forthcoming judgment is expected to determine the legal challenge to his candidacy.
