Ben Ayade quits Cross River North Senate race, triggering APC feud

Former Cross River State governor Ben Ayade announced he is withdrawing from the 2027 contest for the Cross River North senatorial seat after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, saying he will comply with the president’s request. Ayade’s statement described the decision as “tears of agony” and highlighted his past contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region.

Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe subsequently launched a sharp attack on Ayade, labeling him a “political disaster” and accusing him of spreading falsehoods, ethnic bias, and abandoning the Senate seat for personal ambition. Jarigbe denied any formal zoning arrangement for the seat and criticized Ayade’s claims about his role in the 2023 election and his party loyalty.

The exchange underscores deepening internal divisions within the APC in Cross River State as the party positions itself for the 2027 general elections.