Former Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has agreed to step down from his ambition to contest the Cross River North Senate seat following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ayade revealed that he was invited to Abuja for what he described as a high level consultation with the Presidency, during which the directive was given.
“Recall I was invited to return to Abuja for a high level national consultation with the Presidency.
“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,” he said.
The former governor highlighted his contributions to the growth of the All Progressives Congress in the South South region, noting his role as the first APC governor in the zone and his electoral support during the 2023 presidential election.
“I trust that Mr. President may not be aware that the people who turned our churches against Ayade and all of us in APC over the Muslim Muslim ticket and accused us of islamisation of Cross River State are the beneficiaries of his instruction.
“Mr. President may recall that I was the first APC Governor in the whole of South South Nigeria that built the new APC that we enjoy today.
“I worked assiduously for the party and delivered almost 40,000 votes above PDP in the Presidential election, first in the history of our state,” he added.
Ayade also expressed concern over what he described as a lack of recognition, stating that he has not received any federal appointment since leaving office.
Despite stepping down, he appealed to the President to reconsider the decision, arguing that his constituency has had limited representation compared to others.
He further noted that he continues to support the administration’s political goals, including running a free transportation initiative aimed at boosting support for the President’s expected re election bid in 2027.
