Aondoakaa Appeals for Calm After Benue Campaign Materials Burning

Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Benue State, Michael Aondoakaa, has urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation after campaign materials bearing his image were reportedly burnt.

Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, made the appeal in a statement on Saturday following the circulation of videos showing people pouring petrol on and setting fire to campaign T-shirts associated with his political movement.

The identity of those seen in the video and the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been independently established in the reports reviewed by ValidViewNetwork.

Aondoakaa said he was concerned by the development but called on his supporters across Benue’s 23 local government areas not to respond with violence.

“Do not retaliate. Do not destroy anyone’s campaign materials. Do not engage in violence,” he said.

‘Campaign materials can be destroyed’
The PDP candidate said the incident should not distract his movement from what he described as its commitment to peace, security, justice, tolerance and the rule of law.

He argued that the strength of his campaign did not depend on posters, banners or other campaign materials but on the support and aspirations of the people.

“Campaign materials can be destroyed, but the aspirations of the people cannot be burned,” Aondoakaa said.

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The development comes as political activity begins to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Benue.

A separate report has alleged that supporters of the state House of Assembly Speaker, Alfred Emberga, were behind the destruction.

That allegation has not been independently verified, and no response from Emberga or the state government was established in the sources reviewed by ValidViewNetwork.

Aondoakaa’s response has instead focused on preventing the incident from escalating into confrontation between rival political groups.