Cross River Gov. Ben Ayade and APC’s Senatorial Candidate has suffered a skunking in Saturday’s parliamentary poll in the state, Persecondnews reports.
Ayade, who defected from the People’s Democratic Party to All Progressives Congress in 2022, lost his bid to return to the Senate following his defeat by the incumbent senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.
Ayade, who was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, suffered a humiliating defeat as he was able to poll 56,595 votes against 76,145 votes got by Agom-Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Returning Officer, Dr Emmanuel Emanghe, announced the results about 3:05 a.m. on Monday.
Persecondnews recalls that Agom-Jarigbe, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, was elected into the Senate through a bye-election in September 2021 following the death of Dr Rose Okoh.
Ayade, who is serving out his two terms as governor of the state, had hoped to “retire” into Senate where most former governors are now warming the seats.
However, the re-elected Senator could not be issued with the Declaration Form after his declaration by the retuning officer.
Upon demand for the Declaration Form, Agom-Jarigbe was told that it was mistakenly taken to Obudu by the electoral body in the state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, who spoke on phone said, “the form was mistakenly taken to Obudu, but he can be issued with a temporary one pending when the original one will be brought back.”
In a related development, Mr Godwin Offiono of the PDP, was returned elected for the Ogoji/Yala Federal Constituency election.
Offiono walloped the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Mr Jude Ngaji of the All Progressives Congress, by 36,651 votes to 32,973 votes.
The Returning Officer, Dr Wakasor Ofem, announced the Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency result.
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