BEVERLY HILLS, December 08, (THEWILL) – The member representing Cross River North Senatorial District and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Ben Ayade, Monday, emerged the governorship candidate of the Cross River State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after defeating five other aspirants of the party.
In what could be described as a landslide victory, Senator Ayade trounced other contestants who included former NNPC General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing, Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba; Rev. Father Francis Eworo, Doctor Peter Oti, pioneer PDP National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Ebeshi and Mr. Joe Agi.
Four other aspirants had earlier withdrawn from the primaries, and declared their support to Ayade. They included Executive Secretary, National Planning Commission (NPC), Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo; immediate past Secretary to the Government, Barrister Mike Ania; immediate past Commissioner for Works, Barrister Legor Idagbo, and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Larry Odey.
According to the result as announced by the chairman of the electoral panel and Returning Officer, Chief Olusola Akanmode, Senator Ayade scored 752 out of the 782 votes cast. He was subsequently declared winner by the electoral panel chairman.
Barrister Agi placed second while Jedy Agba and Rev Father Eworo scored five votes each. Both Peter Oti and Emmanuel scored zero vote
Ayade, a Professor of Microbiology and a law degree holder, is also member, Senate Committees on Education, Marine Transport, Petroleum Downstream, Drugs/Narcotics/Crime.
