Cross River State Governor Professor Ben Ayade, has clinched the northern senatorial district ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Governor Ayade, who scored 252 votes of the 255 cast, became eligible to contest for the seat sequel to the voluntary withdrawal of the previous candidate, Mr. Martins Orim.
The fresh primary was held at the Ogoja Local government council headquarters in line with the new Electoral Act and under the chairmanship of Mr. Sameera Tabo.
Tabo declared Ayade, who was the sole contestant of the primary, winner of the exercise.
According to him, “due to the withdrawal of Martins Orim the former candidate of the APC for the northern senatorial seat, a fresh primary election was needed in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“255 delegates were accredited for the primary and Ben Ayade being the sole aspirant scored 252 votes, while we had 3 invalid votes. Ben Ayade is hereby declared winner of the Cross River Northern Senatorial ticket,” Tabo announced.
Gratitude
The governor, Professor Ayade, who recently contested for the presidential ticket of the party and lost, expressed gratitude to the delegates for electing him.
He said, “after running for the presidential ticket, I came under tremendous pressure from my people. They said that I did very well when I was a senator from 2011 to 2015 and insisted that I go back. Today, I have answered their call. Of course, they recognized that this country requires a legislator that has both executive and legislative experience.
“I am very experienced. I understand the challenges of our people and I possess all the essential elements that will help us make the appropriate laws and legislation to change the narrative of our people,” said Ayade.
While reiterating his resolve to work with the incoming APC president to rebuild Nigeria, he pledged, “we will target people, medium scale industries and small scale businesses will be given grants to help them migrant from poverty.
“Yes, I am happy that I am going back to the legislature where I can add value to the next government and the country,” he added.
Emmanuel Ukoh
