…Smear Campaign Against Former AGF Futile
The Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTJ) has watched with amusement the latest desperate attempt by appointees and supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia to tarnish the image of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Benue State, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN.
Unable to defend the dismal record of the current administration and alarmed by the growing popularity of Chief Aondoakaa across Benue State, the governor’s camp has resorted to dusting up old, discredited reports and presenting them as fresh revelations. Their latest falsehood is the claim that Chief Aondoakaa is barred from holding public office in Nigeria.
Nothing can be farther from the truth.
The facts are clear. The legal issues they seek to exploit were resolved years ago. Chief Aondoakaa was subsequently cleared and remains fully qualified to seek and occupy public office. This is not a matter of opinion but one of public record.
Indeed, if Chief Aondoakaa was truly ineligible to hold public office as Alia’s propagandists now claim, why did the All Progressives Congress (APC) clear him to contest its 2022 governorship primary election? Why was he allowed to purchase nomination forms, screened by the party and approved to participate in the exercise that eventually produced Governor Alia as candidate?
Equally worthy of note is, Chief Aondoakaa challenged the outcome of the 2022 APC governorship primaries in court, why did Governor Alia and his battery of lawyers fail to raise the issue of alleged ineligibility? Why did no court deem it necessary to question Aondoakaa’s qualification? Why has no lawyer, tribunal or court found any basis to disqualify him nearly 20 years after the matter they are desperately recycling?
The answer is simple: because the allegation is baseless!
What Benue people are witnessing today is the classic behaviour of a political camp gripped by fear and uncertainty. The Alia administration has become increasingly uncomfortable with the rising profile of Chief Aondoakaa and the widespread acceptance he is enjoying across the state.
Everywhere he goes, Aondoakaa’s message of security, economic revival, competent governance and inclusive leadership continues to gain traction. In contrast, public confidence in the current administration continues to diminish under the weight of worsening insecurity, unfulfilled promises and growing public dissatisfaction.
Rather than address these pressing concerns, Governor Alia’s supporters have chosen the path of propaganda, falsehood and character assassination. They have mistaken social media noise for political strategy.
Benue people are not deceived.
No amount of blackmail can erase Chief Aondoakaa’s distinguished record as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. No propaganda campaign can diminish his credentials, experience, competence or acceptability among the people.
It is also difficult to ignore the timing of this coordinated smear campaign. The sudden resurrection of long-settled issues appears calculated to divert public attention from serious allegations currently generating widespread concern within the state that Aondoakaa is being targeted for elimination. Instead of providing answers, Alia’s camp has chosen to manufacture distractions.
CTJ wishes to state categorically that this campaign of falsehood will fail. The politics of mudslinging cannot substitute for performance. Character assassination cannot replace governance. Propaganda cannot silence truth.
We urge Benue people to remain vigilant and refuse to be manipulated by those who seek to distract them from the real issues confronting the state. The future of Benue will not be determined by social media falsehood but by the credibility, competence and vision of those seeking public office.
The growing acceptance of Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, across the state is clearly unsettling the occupants of Government House, Makurdi. Their panic is understandable. Their smear campaign is not.
Signed:
Jerome Zoho
President, Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTJ)
14th July 2026
