Cross River: Ayade Loses Senatorial Election

By Stanley Ekpenyong( South South Bureau Chief)

In one of the major upsets of the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade early Monday morning lost his bid to return to the Senate.

Ayade who represented Northern Cross River Senatorial district between 2011and 2015 was defeated by the incumbent Senator representing the district, Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Senator Agom scored a total of 76,145 votes to emerge the winner, followed by his closest rival, Professor Ayade of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled a total number of 56,595 votes to come second.

The result was announced at Ogoja, headquarters of the Senatorial district, by the returning officer, Dr. Enmanuel Emmaghe.

Apart from Professor Ayade, two House of Reps members from the district, Hon. Legor Idagbor( Obudu/ Bekwara/ Obanliku Federal constituency) and Hon. Jude Ngaji( Yala Ogoja Federal Constituency),  all of the APC, also lost their seats to the PDP candidates.