2027: Ex-AGF Aondoakaa takes battle to unseat Alia to Plateau diaspora community – Businessday NG

Diaspora communities are increasingly becoming influential forces in electoral politics, using their financial resources, professional networks, social connections and access to information to shape political conversations and influence voting decisions in their home communities.
Although Nigerians living outside their states or countries cannot currently vote in Nigerian elections, they can influence electoral outcomes through campaign financing, political advocacy, media mobilisation, voter education and persuasion of eligible relatives and associates at home.
In Benue State, where political alignments are already taking shape ahead of the 2027 governorship election, this emerging influence is attracting the attention of political actors seeking to build support beyond the state’s geographical boundaries.
It is against this background that Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice recently taken his campaign to unseat governor Hyacinth Alia to Benue indigenes resident in Plateau State, seeking to turn their networks, resources and connections into a formidable political mobilisation platform.
Aondoakaa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, made the appeal recently at a gathering organised by Benue Diaspora Plateau for MKA 2027, where he presented his ambition as a collective movement to restore security, promote ethnic unity and reposition the state’s economy.
The strategy recognises that Benue indigenes living in Plateau, Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria maintain strong connections with their ancestral communities. Through family relationships, community associations, professional groups and traditional institutions, they can influence political decisions and mobilise support among eligible voters in their home state.
For Aondoakaa, the Plateau community offers an important political constituency. Beyond financial contributions, its members could serve as campaign advocates, connect the candidate with influential groups at home and encourage relatives and associates to support his ambition.
Addressing the gathering, Aondoakaa appealed to Benue people to look beyond political affiliations and ethnic differences, insisting that the state’s collective interests should take precedence over individual political ambitions.
“I came from a very humble background, and that has remained with me. It has taught me that anybody can become anything in life. That is why, whenever you meet people, speak to them with humility. Even when you have to correct someone, do it in a manner that allows you to remain friends,” he said.
He promised an inclusive administration that would give minority ethnic groups a sense of belonging, while recognising the historical and cultural contributions of the major ethnic groups.

“When I talk about the three pillars, I mean the three major nations that constitute the pillars of Benue: Tiv, Idoma and Igede. Nobody can cook with only two pillars. A pot that cooks well must have three pillars, and sometimes four,” Aondoakaa added.
The former AGF identified insecurity as one of the major challenges confronting the state, promising to establish a common security arrangement that would make attacks on any community the concern of all 23 local government areas.
“We will refuse to hear that an Idoma man has been attacked and that it is only an Idoma problem. We will refuse, under my government, to hear that an Etulo man has been attacked and that it is only an Etulo problem. An attack on one community will be treated as an attack on all the 23 local government areas,” he said.

He proposed establishing a Benue Security Network and a rapid-response mechanism involving youths across the local government areas to respond to attacks and protect vulnerable communities.

“If an Idoma village is attacked, youths from all the 23 local government areas should be ready to respond. Our response must be the response of the entire Benue State. If we stand together, nobody can defeat us,” he said.

Aondoakaa also promised to facilitate the return of displaced residents to their ancestral communities and farms, arguing that restoring security would help revive agricultural production in a state widely regarded as Nigeria’s food basket.

He said Benue’s agricultural capacity should be transformed into an economic and political advantage in the country’s affairs.

“Your stomach, the person who feeds you, ought to have a say in the affairs of the nation. You cannot produce food for the country and still allow people to look down on you. We will turn our economic strength, particularly our capacity to produce food, into an advantage in demanding what rightfully belongs to us in this country”.
On governance, Aondoakaa accused the Alia administration of mismanaging public resources and questioned figures contained in an audited account reportedly published by the state government.

“Government is not a licence for you to administer the funds of the state as if they belong to your father. The funds of the state belong to the people, and you must administer them according to the laws governing the state,” he noted.
The PDP candidate promised to strengthen accountability, restore the responsibilities of tax collectors and invest in education, healthcare, rural roads and employment. He also pledged to give women greater opportunities through political appointments and cooperative societies.
On the state’s political leadership, Aondoakaa urged Benue people to protect what he described as their remaining strong voice at the federal level, referring to Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He also praised former governor Samuel Ortom for his contributions to protecting the state during his administration.

He criticised the slogan, “No Alia, no Benue”, arguing that no individual should be presented as indispensable to the existence of the state.

“Benue existed before Alia, and Benue will continue to exist after Alia. Governors have come and gone. Aper Aku came. Adasu came. Senator George Akume came. Suswam came. Ortom came. None of them said that without him, Benue would collapse,” he criticised.

He further accused the incumbent administration of restricting opposition political activities in public facilities, describing the development as a departure from the political tolerance he said characterised previous administrations.
“Do not be afraid of supporting me because you belong to a different political parties. Benue comes before any political party. I value your contributions more than the money I can spend from my own resources,” he said.
Aondoakaa also commended individuals who, according to him, resigned from government positions to identify with his political movement, including a former Director-General of the state’s Social Investment Programme.

He described their decision as evidence that the campaign was attracting people willing to sacrifice political positions and privileges for what he called the collective interest of Benue.

He further promised to recognise professionals, strengthen women’s cooperative societies and provide opportunities for lawyers and other skilled persons to contribute to the state’s development.

The former minister said that, if elected, he would bring together the Tiv, Idoma, Igede and minority ethnic groups, alongside political leaders and other stakeholders, to agree on a common development agenda.

“I will rewrite the history of Benue. When I leave office after four years, many people in Benue will have reasons to celebrate,” he said.

Diaspora endorsement and stakeholders’ expectations

Emmanuel Hemba, a professor and convener of Benue Diaspora Plateau for MKA 2027, while speaking at the event said the group’s endorsement of Aondoakaa followed a careful assessment of his public service record, particularly his experience as Attorney-General of the Federation, investments in agriculture and commitment to education.

Hemba urged him to prioritise security, healthcare, education, rural roads and employment if elected, while requesting formal recognition of the diaspora group within his campaign organisation.

The gathering also provided a platform for traditional rulers, community leaders, women and youths to express their expectations of a future Aondoakaa administration.

Samuel Ishor, the Youth leader of Benue Diaspora Plateau for MKA appealed for deliberate investment in youth employment, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and security, urging Aondoakaa to give young people meaningful opportunities in governance.

On her part, Alice Elechi, the women leader called for greater inclusion of women in political appointments, economic empowerment programmes and decision-making, describing women as important partners in the development of the state.

Also Speaking, Laha Dzever, the Director-General of the MKA 2027 campaign organisation, said the engagement was part of efforts to consolidate support for Aondoakaa beyond Benue State. He urged diaspora members to sustain mobilisation and take the campaign message to their respective communities.
For Aondoakaa, however, the challenge goes beyond securing endorsements at gatherings outside Benue. The effectiveness of his diaspora strategy will ultimately depend on how successfully he converts the enthusiasm, financial contributions and community networks of indigenes living outside the state into grassroots mobilisation and electoral support across the 23 local government areas in 2027.

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