Former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has announced his withdrawal from the Cross River North senatorial race, saying the move was made in line with a request from President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ayade expressed disappointment over the development, noting that although he felt “ill-treated,” he chose to comply with the president’s directive.
He explained that he was summoned to Abuja for what he described as a high-level consultation with the presidency, where he was asked to step down from the senatorial ambition.
“Recall I was invited to return to Abuja for a high-level national consultation with the presidency. From the sequence of events that followed my return, 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 wrote.
He also suggested that President Bola Tinubu might not be fully aware of the political situation in Cross River State, alleging that those benefiting from his withdrawal were previously opposed to the APC during the 2023 elections over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Ayade further highlighted his contributions to the ruling party in the South-South, noting that he was the first APC governor in the region and claimed he delivered significant votes for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
