Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade has denied ever participating in the All Progressive Congress Senatorial Primary.
This is despite clear evidence that he did.
According to Christian Ita, Ayade’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, the purported result from the primary in which his principal was said to have participated in, has been trending on social media.
In a statement he signed on Ayade’s behalf, he said, “His Excellency is a presidential aspirant who will be taking part in the APC presidential convention now slated for June 6.
“We make bold to say that the so-called parallel primary election as contained in the said video was at best a poorly scripted skit comedy shot by three persons sitting in a room.”
Recall that Ayade had reportedly, secretly purchased the 20 million naira senatorial form just in case he loses out in the presidential primaries.
Apparently, another senatorial aspirant from the district entered a pact to act as a placeholder for him.
“You know senatorial primaries will come before presidential, so that aspirant who I don’t want to mention his name will get the Cross River North senatorial ticket.
“If the governor fails to get the presidential ticket of our party, then his front who got the senatorial ticket will step down and he will be replaced by the governor,” an APC member had said.
A legal practitioner. Cecilia Adams emerged winner of the primary, polling a total number of 140 votes, with Ayade came a distant 3rd position with 52 votes after Hon Orim Martin Ojie who scored 61 votes.
