Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade has lost his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress, APC’s ticket to run for the Northern Senatorial District of the state.

Results of the primary show Mr. Ayade polled 52 votes to crash out against Adams Cecelia, who scored 140. Another aspirant Martin Orim scored 61 votes.
The governor would be completing his eight years as governor of the state in 2023.

He dumped the main opposition party, PDP in May 2021 to nurse his presidential ambition which he made known in April.

Meanwhile, Nigerian music executive, Ubi Ofem, popularly known as Ubi Franklin, failed to clinch the Cross River State House of Assembly, Yakurr Constituency 1, ticket on Thursday. He lost to Cyril Omni, the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade.

Mr Omini secured 17 votes, while Mr Franklin garnered 12 Votes and another contestant Ubi Ubi Itam received 11 votes. Mr Franklin, the Special Adviser on Tourism to Rivers State government, was a strong contender in the APC primaries, held at Ugep, Cross Rivers State, on Thursday.