By: Hezekiah Ovedhe
Former Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has announced his decision to step down from the race for the Cross River North Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Monday, Ayade revealed that he was recently invited to Abuja for what he described as a high-level consultation with the Presidency, during which it became clear that the President preferred that he withdraw from the senatorial contest.
“I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony,” Ayade stated emotionally.
The former governor used the opportunity to highlight his contributions to the growth and consolidation of the All Progressives Congress in the South-South region.
According to him, he emerged as the first APC governor in the South-South and was instrumental in establishing the party’s structure in Cross River State. He also recalled that during the 2023 presidential election, the APC secured nearly 40,000 votes above the performance of the opposition PDP in the state.
Ayade further noted that he was among the earliest supporters of President Tinubu’s presidential ambition, championing the slogan, “If Tinubu Can Fix Lagos, Tinubu Can Fix Nigeria,” while advocating that the President be granted the right of first refusal for the party’s 2023 presidential ticket.
Despite his loyalty and contributions, Ayade lamented that he had remained without a federal appointment for more than three years. He added that he is currently sponsoring a free transportation scheme in support of President Tinubu’s anticipated 2027 re-election campaign.
The former senator appealed to the President to reconsider the decision, arguing that his federal constituency had only occupied the senatorial seat for eight years, while his main rival had already spent about 20 years in the National Assembly.
He warned that allowing the opponent another term would effectively amount to a fourth tenure in the Senate.(MandateNigeria.Com)
