No law guarantees govs eight years — Benue PDP candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, has said the incumbent governor cannot take victory in the 2027 election for granted, insisting that voters have the final say on whether a governor earns a second term. Aondoakaa made the remarks on Monday while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, where he rejected the argument that sitting governors in the state had historically retained power after their first term. According to the former Attorney-General of the Federation, the constitutional provision gives a governor an initial four-year mandate, while any additional term depends on the decision of the electorate. 'The law does not give a governor eight years. It gives a governor four years. The other four years are what the people give you,' he said. Aondoakaa expressed confidence that the current administration would be defeated at the polls, citing what he described as concerns over insecurity, limited access to the governor and uneven development across the state. He argued that accessibility had played an important role in the re-election of previous governors, saying residents wanted leaders they could approach and engage directly. 'People in Benue value access. If our governor cannot be accessed, who will vote for you again? Even if you don't give them anything, the fact that they come to you and you welcome them and talk to them, they feel at home,' he said. The PDP candidate maintained that the 2027 contest would ultimately be determined by Benue voters and not by historical trends or assumptions about the advantage enjoyed by an incumbent.