Ayade loses; Jarigbe, Akpanke, Ofiono wins in Cross River National Assembly election, others
Governor Ben Ayade has lost his bid to return to the Senate following his defeat by the incumbent senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial district, Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.
Ayade who was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, lost the National Assembly elections conducted on Saturday with 56,595 votes against Agom-Jarigbe’s of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 76,145 votes.
Jarigbbe Agom has been declared winner by the returning officer, Dr. Emmanuel Emanghe who announced the result for the polls around 3:05 a.m. on Monday.
Recall, 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.
Also, the PDP candidate for Bekwara/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency Mr. Peter Akpanke has been declared winner by the returning officer Mr. Callistus Ublele after polling 32,5765 votes to beat his closest rival and two term federal lawmaker Hon. Legor Idagbo of the APC who scored 25,819 votes.
Mr. Godwin Offiono of PDP has won Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency elections with 36,642 votes to beat his closest and incumbent representative, Hon. Jude Ngaji of the APC who scored 32,964 votes as declared by the returning officer Dr. wokasor Eni.
Meanwhile, the incumbent member Representing Calabar South/Akpabuyo/ Bakassi Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Apostle Essien Ayi was taken into custody by the Cross River State Police Command for security reasons to avoid breakdown of law and order as voting in the area was inconclusive in some polling units in Bakassi Local Government Area of the State.
The incumbent and ranking House of Representatives member Essien Ayi of the PDP has been defeated by the current deputy speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the APC candidate Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey aka “PAPA” according to INEC in the early morning of Monday February 27, 2023.
In another development, the APC state Assembly candidate for Calabar Municipal State Constituency Mr. Stanley Boyce Nsemo has been detained by the EFCC for vote buying at Ishie Town Field.
Also, in custody of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission who monitored the Presidential National Assembly elections is one Eno Amponsah who was caught in possession of $450 (Four Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) and N156, 800 on suspicion of alleged vote buying in Calabar Municipal Council Area.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
