Political tension is mounting in Cross River State following claims by former governor, Senator Ben Ayade, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asked him to withdraw from the Cross River North senatorial race.

Ayade, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, said he was summoned to Abuja for what he described as a “high-level national consultation” with the presidency, where he was asked to step down from the contest.

The former governor said he would comply with the directive out of respect for the President, despite his reservations.

“I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill-treatment and agony,” Ayade stated, hinting that the decision may have been influenced by political actors he accused of previously opposing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Ayade maintained that he played a pivotal role in the growth of the APC in Cross River, noting that he was the first APC governor in the South-South and contributed to the party’s performance in the 2023 general election. He, however, lamented what he described as years of political marginalisation despite his loyalty to the party and the President.

He urged his supporters to refrain from purchasing nomination forms for the senatorial race for now, warning that doing so would violate presidential authority. He also appealed for a possible review of the decision, insisting that his contributions to the party deserved recognition.

But the senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has dismissed Ayade’s claims, accusing the former governor of distorting facts and attempting to mislead the public.

In a strongly worded response, Jarigbe questioned Ayade’s electoral strength, arguing that he lacks political relevance in the district. He further alleged that Ayade mismanaged the state’s resources during his tenure as governor and is seeking another opportunity in the Senate.

“We are not political weaklings. We come with votes,” Jarigbe said, adding that his political structure secured multiple legislative seats in the senatorial district even while Ayade was in office.

The lawmaker also disputed Ayade’s claim of working for President Tinubu in the 2023 elections, alleging that the former governor neither stepped down during the APC presidential primary nor delivered the state in the general election.

Jarigbe also rejected allegations of religious bias, accusing Ayade of engaging in divisive politics in the past. He insisted that voters in the district had already rejected the former governor, describing him as “a political disaster.”

As of press time, the presidency had not issued any official statement confirming or denying Ayade’s claim. (The Nation)

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