Ayade Criticizes Tinubu's Order to Withdraw Senate Bid

Former Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has publicly condemned President Bola Tinubu's order for him to withdraw from his bid for the Cross River North Senate seat in the 2027 general elections. Ayade's statement, issued on Monday, followed an invitation to Abuja for a high-level national consultation with the president.

During the meeting, Tinubu reportedly directed Ayade to shelve his senatorial ambitions, which Ayade described as painful and agonizing. He highlighted his role as the first governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in the South-South region, where he delivered nearly 40,000 votes for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 presidential elections.

Ayade stressed that despite his efforts to engage with the federal government over the past three years without any federal appointments, he would appeal to the president to reconsider his directive, arguing that he deserves to enjoy senatorial representation for eight years, especially against a backdrop of opposition spanning 20 years.