Former Ben Ayade governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has stepped back from his ambition to contest the Cross River North senatorial seat in the 2027 general election, saying he did so on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — a disclosure that opens a rare window into the power dynamics shaping political succession within Nigeria’s ruling party.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ayade said he was summoned to Abuja for what he described as a “high-level national consultation” with the Presidency, during which Tinubu directed him to drop his Senate ambition.
Rather than quietly complying, the former governor used the moment to make a public plea — and air grievances he says have lingered since leaving office.
“Mr President wants me to withhold my Senate ambition. I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony,” Ayade said.
A rare public complaint from within APC ranks
Ayade’s statement is politically striking, not simply because he withdrew from the race, but because of how he framed the decision. In unusually emotional language, he suggested that figures who once opposed the All Progressives Congress in Cross River are now the ones benefiting politically, while longstanding loyalists have been pushed aside.
He specifically referenced resistance within Christian communities in Cross River during the controversy over the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2023, claiming he and other party faithful defended Tinubu’s candidacy at political cost.
Ayade also reminded the Presidency of his strategic role in reshaping Cross River’s political map. His defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to APC while in office marked a major breakthrough for the ruling party in the South-South — a region historically dominated by opposition politics.
He argued that his leadership helped deliver a historic presidential victory margin for Tinubu in the state, with nearly 40,000 votes above the PDP tally.
More than a Senate ticket
At face value, this is about a Senate seat. In reality, it points to a larger contest over influence, loyalty and reward within the APC ahead of 2027.
Ayade lamented that despite what he considers significant contributions to Tinubu’s victory and the party’s expansion in the South-South, he has remained without a federal appointment for more than three years. He further disclosed that he is personally funding a free transportation scheme aimed at supporting Tinubu’s anticipated re-election campaign.
That claim is notable because it suggests Ayade still sees himself as politically invested in Tinubu’s future, even while publicly expressing frustration with how he has been treated.
Representation battle in Cross River North
Ayade also grounded his appeal in regional politics, arguing that his federal constituency has had only eight years of senatorial representation, compared with 20 years enjoyed by his main rival — a remark widely seen as an appeal to equity in Cross River North’s internal power arrangement.
That argument may resonate locally, where questions of zoning, district balance and access to federal power remain central to electoral contests.
What happens next?
What remains unclear is why Tinubu reportedly asked Ayade to step aside, and whether the move is part of a broader strategy to manage competing interests in Cross River’s APC structure ahead of 2027. The Presidency has not publicly commented on Ayade’s claim.
For now, Ayade says he has complied. But his unusually candid statement ensures the matter will not quietly fade.
What to watch next is whether the Presidency responds, whether Ayade is offered a federal role, or whether his public appeal signals deeper cracks within the APC’s South-South coalition as early positioning for 2027 gathers pace.
