Senator Ben Ayade yesterday emerged the governorship candidate of the
Cross River State Peoples Democratic Party PDP after defeating five other
aspirants of the party.
In what could be described as a landslide, Senator Ayade trounced other
contestants who included former NNPC General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing,
Mr Goddy Jedy Agba, Rev. Father Francis Eworo, Doctor Peter Oti, pioneer
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Ebeshi and Mr. Joe Agi.
Four other aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the primaries, and
declared their support to Ayade. They included Executive Secretary,
National Planning Commission, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, immediate past
Secretary to the Government, Barrister Mike Ania, immediate past
Commissioner for Works, Barrister Legor Idagbo and Speaker of the House of
Assembly, Rt. Hon. Larry Odey.
According to the result as announced by the Chairman of the electoral
panel and Returning Officer, Chief Olusola Akanmode, Senator Ayade scored
752 out of 782 votes cast. He was subsequently declared Ayade winner by
the electoral panel Chairman.
Barrister Agi scored….votes to place second while Jedy Agba and Rev Father
Eworo scored five votes each. Both Peter Oti and Emmanuel scored zero vote
Ayade, a serving Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial
District, is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and
Ecology.
He is also member, Senate Committees on Education, Marine Transport,
Petroleum Downstream, Drugs/Narcotics/Crime.
He is a Professor of Microbiology and also holds a degree in law.