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The Benue Equity and Justice Movement has called on the leadership of the Federal High Court and the Nigerian judiciary to ensure transparency and protect the integrity of the judicial process ahead of the November 16, 2026, judgment in the eligibility suit involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue State, Mr Michael Aondoakaa.
The group, in a statement issued by its General Secretary, Mr Kingsley Asema, expressed concern over what it described as alleged attempts to influence the outcome of the case, urging the judicial authorities to ensure that the matter was determined strictly on its merits and in accordance with the law.
The development comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over Aondoakaa’s eligibility to contest the 2027 governorship election in Benue State, following previous court decisions concerning his suitability to hold public office.
The group recalled that on December 10, 2021, the Supreme Court affirmed an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division, which upheld a Federal High Court decision barring the former Attorney-General of the Federation from holding public office for life over issues relating to the administration of justice.
The Court of Appeal, in its judgment delivered on June 1, 2010, had declared that Aondoakaa undermined the rule of law, the administration of justice and the integrity of the judiciary through official correspondence written while he served as Attorney-General of the Federation under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The eligibility controversy resurfaced after the 2027 governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Mr Damian Adagba, reportedly approached the court in September, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Aondoakaa’s name from its official portal as the PDP governorship candidate.
Similarly, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2152/2026, instituted by David Ejembi, Aondoaver Teryila, Joseph Okpanachi and Benedict Akaazua Orkume against INEC, the PDP and Aondoakaa, the plaintiffs approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to restrain the former minister from presenting himself as the party’s governorship candidate.
Following arguments by counsel to the parties, the court adjourned the matter to November 16, 2026, for judgment.
However, in its latest statement, the Benue Equity and Justice Movement alleged that it had received information suggesting that meetings had been held by individuals associated with Aondoakaa over concerns about the possible outcome of the case.
The group claimed that some of the discussions centred on alleged efforts to influence the handling of the matter through an intermediary.
The group subsequently appealed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Justice of Nigeria to take necessary steps to safeguard the independence of the court and ensure that the November 16 judgment was delivered without external interference.
It maintained that the case provides an opportunity for the judiciary to demonstrate its commitment to fairness, impartiality and the rule of law, stressing that public confidence in the justice system depends on the ability of courts to dispense justice without fear or favour.
