“ALLOW ME TO CONTEST,” AYADE PLEADS AS TINUBU ORDERS HIM TO DROP SENATE BID
Read Time:1 Minute, 14 Second
By:Tajudeen Aminat
Former Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has complied with a directive from President Bola Tinubu to step down his bid for the Cross River North Senate seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ayade said he was summoned to Abuja for a high-level consultation with the Presidency, during which he was instructed to withdraw from the senatorial race.
He stated: “From the sequence of events that followed my return, Mr. President wants me to withhold my Senate ambition. I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony.”
Ayade also reflected on his contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South, noting that he was the first APC governor in the region and played a key role in strengthening the party’s presence. He further claimed he delivered nearly 40,000 more votes for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State.
He, however, expressed concern that those who previously opposed him over the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy are now benefiting from the current directive.
The former governor also lamented being without a federal appointment for over three years despite his contributions, adding that he is currently supporting the President’s re-election efforts through a free transportation initiative.
Ayade appealed for reconsideration of the decision, arguing that his constituency has had limited senatorial representation compared to his political rival.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0