#Nigeriadecides2023: Cross River Governor Ben Ayade Loses Senatorial Election

Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has lost his bid to return to the senate upon the completion of his tenure as governor.

Ben Ayade, who contested the Cross River North senatorial seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was defeated by the incumbent, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ben Ayade was in the senate from 2011 to 2015.

Agom-Jarigbe got 76,145 votes, while Ayade polled 56,595.

“By the powers conferred on me as the Returning Officer of the Northern Senatorial District, I hereby announce Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party elected for the Northern Senatorial District,” the returning officer, Dr. Emmanuel Emanghe, said.

Governor Ayade had risen to power as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was elected into the Senate in 2011 as a candidate of the party 2011 and as Governor in 2015. He was also re-elected governor as a PDP member.

The governor, however, defected to the All Progressives Congress in 2021. Agom-Jarigbe, however, chose to remain in the PDP.

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has won the presidential election in Katsina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state.

Atiku Abubakar polled a total of 489,045 to edge out the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu who scored 482,283 votes and other candidates.