Former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, on Monday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed him not to contest the upcoming Senate race, prompting him to suspend his ambition in obedience to the President’s request.
Ayade, in a lengthy statement to supporters, said he recently returned to Abuja for what he described as a high-level consultation with the Presidency, after which he was informed to withhold his senatorial bid. He said he accepted the directive despite feeling hurt and sidelined.
The former governor expressed concern that those benefiting from the decision were political opponents who had previously criticised the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 elections and opposed the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. He also alleged that some of them were involved in acts of intimidation during the polls.
Ayade said he remained one of the founding pillars of the APC in Cross River and the South-South region, noting that he was the first APC governor in the geopolitical zone and worked to strengthen the party’s presence in the state.
According to him, his administration delivered a historic presidential victory for the APC in Cross River by securing about 40,000 votes above the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election. He added that he had continued to support the party financially and politically.
The former governor lamented that despite his loyalty, he had not received any federal appointment since leaving office more than three years ago. He argued that his contributions to the party and the Tinubu presidency deserved recognition.
Ayade further appealed to the President to review the directive, saying his opponent had already spent three terms in the National Assembly and granting another term would amount to a fourth tenure in office. He also argued that his own constituency had not enjoyed equal representation.
Reflecting on his political career, Ayade recalled that he had previously withdrawn from both the Senate race in 2007 and the governorship contest in 2015 on party instructions, but later became a senator and two-term governor. He said he believed in destiny and divine timing.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and refrain from purchasing nomination forms for now, insisting he would not act against the President’s directive while awaiting a possible review of the decision by the party leadership.
Ayade, however, assured members of the APC that he would continue to support all party candidates in Cross River State and work with President Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu to ensure victory for the party in future elections.
