Senate Race: Coast Clear for Jarigbe As Tinubu Reportedly Orders Ayade to Step Aside 

 

A former Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has said President Bola Tinubu directed him to withdraw from the forthcoming senatorial race, a development that appears to clear the path for Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe ahead of the contest.

 

Ayade disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday following what he described as a “high-level national consultation” with the Presidency in Abuja. He said the directive came directly from President Bola Tinubu, urging him to abandon his ambition to contest for a Senate seat.

 

“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 said.

 

The former governor, however, expressed frustration over the decision, suggesting that the President may not have been fully briefed on the political situation in Cross River State. He alleged that some of those benefiting from his withdrawal had previously opposed both him and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

According to him, certain political actors had mobilised religious sentiments during the 2023 general elections, particularly around the Muslim-Muslim ticket debate, and were also allegedly involved in electoral violence.

 

“Mr President may not be aware that the beneficiaries of his order are people who turned our churches against us and accused us of Islamisation of Cross River State,” he said.

 

Ayade further claimed that some of the individuals in question were present at collation centres during the presidential election and were “armed,” adding that security agencies were aware of the incidents.

 

The former governor also highlighted his role in strengthening the APC in the South-South region, noting that he was the first APC governor in the zone and contributed significantly to the party’s performance in Cross River State.

 

“I worked assiduously for the party and delivered almost 40,000 votes above PDP in the presidential election, the first in the history of our state,” he said.

 

Ayade lamented what he described as political neglect since leaving office, claiming he had not received any federal appointment despite his loyalty to the party and financial contributions during key party activities.

 

He also recalled his early support for President Tinubu’s presidential ambition, stating that he was among the first APC governors to back his candidacy ahead of the 2023 elections.

 

The former governor argued that stopping him from contesting was unfair, especially when compared with his rival, whom he accused of spending about two decades in the National Assembly and seeking a fourth term.

 

Ayade referenced past instances where he stepped down from political contests at the request of party leaders, including the 2007 Senate race and the 2015 governorship election, which later paved the way for his emergence as governor.

 

Despite his grievances, he urged his supporters to remain calm and respect the President’s directive while awaiting a possible review.

 

“Let us tarry and honour Mr President even as we still appeal for the review of his order,” he said.

 

He also instructed supporters not to purchase nomination forms for now, stressing that doing so would amount to defying presidential authority.

 

Ayade’s comments follow reports of high-level consultations involving the Presidency and a statement earlier attributed to Linus Obogo, Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, indicating political engagements linked to the development.

 

The unfolding situation is expected to further reshape the senatorial race dynamics in Cross River State as the APC moves to consolidate its position ahead of the next election cycle.