Ben Ayade Reacts to Tinubu's Senate Race Directive

Ben Ayade, the former governor of Cross River State, publicly expressed his discontent following a directive from President Bola Tinubu asking him to step down from the Senate race for the Cross River North seat. In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Ayade claimed that this directive was politically motivated and aimed at benefiting Tinubu's political opponents ahead of the 2023 elections.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of pursuing an Islamic agenda and alleged that they were using religious sentiments against him. Ayade highlighted his significant contributions to the APC in the South-South region, noting that he was the first governor from the zone elected on the party's platform and had delivered nearly 40,000 votes above the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election.

He reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and pledged to support its candidates, including President Tinubu. Bassey Otu, the current governor of Cross River State, urged supporters to remain calm despite Ayade's disappointment.