By Seyi Odewale
A former governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has accused the presidency of bias after he was allegedly directed to withdraw from the Cross River North Senate race.
Ayade, who also previously served as senator for the district, lost the 2023 senatorial election to incumbent lawmaker Agom Jarigbe. He said the development followed a “high-level national consultation” in Abuja with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after which he was asked to step down.
“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 said.
The former governor, a key figure in the expansion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South, suggested the directive may have been influenced by political opponents within the state.
“Mr President may not be aware that the people who turned our churches against Ayade and all of us in APC… are the beneficiaries of his instruction,” he stated.
He further alleged that some of those now favoured had been involved in election-day violence.
“The beneficiaries of his order are people armed against us with guns and machetes in collation centres… police records available,” he claimed.
Highlighting his contributions to the party, Ayade said he played a leading role in building the APC in Cross River State and supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid.
“I was the first APC governor in the South-South… I delivered almost 40,000 votes above PDP in the presidential election, first in the history of our state,” he said.
He also lamented what he described as political neglect despite his loyalty.
“For over three years, I have been sidelined without appointment,” Ayade said, noting that he donated to party activities and supported internal processes, including the national convention.
Questioning the fairness of the directive, he argued that his opponent had already spent multiple terms in the National Assembly.
“Granting him one more term means he is doing a fourth term in office,” he said.
Despite his grievances, Ayade urged his supporters to remain calm and respect the president’s authority, while appealing for a review of the decision.
“Let us tarry and honour Mr President even as we still appeal for the review of his order,” he said.
He described the situation as deeply distressing, saying yielding the ticket under such conditions was “most traumatising” and amounted to “a spiritual murder.”
Ayade, however, pledged continued support for the APC and its candidates if the directive stands.
“We would join hands with our President and Governor to deliver APC at all levels… if that remains the permanent position of Mr President,” he said.
He also advised his supporters not to purchase nomination forms in compliance with the directive.
“I dare not question his authority, but I challenge his conscience… the labourer deserves his wages,” he added.
