ben ayade.webp
The Digest:

Former Cross River governor Ben Ayade has withdrawn from the race for the Cross River North senatorial seat, complying with a "request" from President Bola Tinubu. In a lengthy statement on Monday, Ayade said he yielded to Tinubu's request despite his sense of "ill-treatment" and deep disappointment. "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 wrote. Ayade alleged that the beneficiaries of Tinubu's order were among those who fiercely opposed the APC's Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.

Key Points:
  • Ayade steps down despite being the first APC governor in the South-South.
  • He claims he delivered nearly 40,000 votes above PDP for Tinubu in 2023.
  • Ayade alleges beneficiaries of the order opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
  • He says he has remained sidelined for over three years without federal appointment.
  • He pledges to support all APC candidates if the order remains unchanged.

Watch whether Ayade receives any federal appointment or compensation, and how the Cross River North senate race unfolds.

Sources: The Cable, Channels Tv