After Losing Presidential Ticket, Ayade Wins APC Senatorial Ticket In Cross River State

The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Cross River North Senatorial District in the 2023 election.

Ayade won the fresh primaries conducted for the position on Thursday following the withdrawal of the former party candidate for the position, Martins Orim from contesting the polls.

Naija News understands the Cross River Governor polled 252 votes of the 255 votes cast at the fresh primary held at the Ogoja Local Government headquarters in which he was unopposed.

According to the chairman of the electoral committee, Sameera Tabo, three votes were invalid.

Speaking after emerging winner of the primary election, Ayade said after losing the APC presidential ticket, he was under a lot of pressure from his people to return to the Senate.

He added that he had no choice but to respond to their call of service.

“They said I did very well when I was a Senator from 2011 to 2015 and insisted I go back and today I have answered their call. Of course, they recognised that this country requires a legislator that has both executive and legislative experience,” Ayade said.

He promised to provide good representation for the people of his constituency if elected, adding that the plan is to work with the incoming presidential administration to make life better for the people.

“I am very experienced, I know the challenges of our people, and I possess all the essential elements that will help us make the appropriate laws and legislations that will change the narrative of our people.

“More importantly, it is imperative to work with the incoming APC president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to reconstruct the concept of development within the African context. Development is about the people and in a sluggish, developing economy, emphasis cannot be put on infrastructure alone.

“We will target people, medium scale industries, small scale businesses will be put under sufficient grants and support until they begin to migrate away from poverty.

“So I am happy that I am going back to the legislature where I can add additional value to the next government and this country,” Ayade said.