Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit challenging his candidacy for the 2027 Benue State governorship election.
Aondoakaa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of competence, arguing that it should not proceed to determine the case.
His legal team, led by Prof. Anthony Ijohor, SAN, made the submission while adopting a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit.
The court subsequently reserved judgment for November 16, 2026.
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, C.T. Mue, 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, adopted the plaintiffs’ counter-addresses and written submissions in opposition to the preliminary objections.
Ijohor subsequently 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 also adopted further affidavits and replies on points of law filed in response to the submissions by the PDP and Aondoakaa.
The legal team representing Aondoakaa included other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chiesonu I. Okpoko, Anthony A. Malik and Mohammed Said Diri, alongside other lawyers.
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 decision, scheduled for November 16, is expected to determine the next stage of the legal dispute over his candidacy.
