Former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has withdrawn his ambition to contest for the Cross River North Senate seat in the 2027 general elections following what he described as a direct instruction from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Monday, Ayade revealed that he was invited to Abuja for what he termed a high-level consultation with the Presidency, during which he was asked to step aside from the senatorial contest.
The former governor said the decision was painful and emotionally difficult, noting that he complied out of loyalty to the President and the All Progressives Congress, despite feeling deeply hurt by the development.
According to him, the directive left him with a sense of disappointment, especially considering his longstanding commitment to the APC and the sacrifices he said he had made for the party’s growth in Cross River State and the wider South-South region.
“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 stated.
Reflecting on his political journey, Ayade recalled being the first South-South governor to defect to the APC, a move he said played a significant role in strengthening the party’s presence in the region.
He also referenced his efforts during the 2023 presidential election, claiming he delivered nearly 40,000 votes above the Peoples Democratic Party in support of Tinubu, which he described as a historic achievement in Cross River’s political landscape.
Ayade suggested that forces opposed to him within the political structure may have influenced the President’s decision.
“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 are the same beneficiaries of this instruction,” he said.
The former governor lamented that despite years of loyalty and service to the party, he has not been considered for any federal appointment in more than three years.
Nonetheless, Ayade reaffirmed his support for Tinubu and the APC, disclosing that he is currently financing a free transportation initiative designed to mobilise grassroots support for the President’s expected 2027 re-election campaign.
He also appealed for a reconsideration of the directive, arguing that fairness and equity should guide political representation in Cross River North.
Ayade maintained that his federal constituency has only occupied the Senate seat for eight years, while his principal rival has held the position for close to two decades.
The development introduces a fresh layer of political intrigue to the unfolding permutations in Cross River North, with many observers now watching to see whether the President may revisit the decision in response to Ayade’s emotional appeal.
What You Should Know
Ben Ayade’s withdrawal from the Cross River North Senate race highlights the growing influence of internal party negotiations ahead of the 2027 elections.
His public expression of pain underscores tensions within the APC over candidate selection and regional political balance. Ayade’s appeal also raises broader questions about reward systems within political parties and the extent to which loyalty influences future opportunities.
As political alignments continue to shift, this development could reshape calculations in Cross River politics and test Tinubu’s ability to manage competing interests within the ruling party ahead of another crucial electoral cycle.
