Former Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has withdrawn from the race for the Cross River North Senate seat following a directive from President Bola Tinubu. Ayade disclosed in a statement on Monday that he was recently called to Abuja for a high-level national consultation with the Presidency, where Tinubu instructed him to shelve his senatorial ambition. He said he is yielding to the request despite feelings of ill treatment, adding, "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 referenced his role in expanding the All Progressives Congress in the South-South, stating he was the first APC governor in the region and delivered nearly 40,000 more votes than the PDP for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. He noted that he has received no federal appointment in over three years despite his contributions. He is currently running a free transportation initiative aimed at supporting Tinubu's expected 2027 re-election campaign. Ayade appealed to the President to reconsider, pointing out that his constituency has had only eight years of senatorial representation, while his main opponent has held the seat for 20 years.
💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
