Andy Esiet, Calabar
Cross River state governor, Senator Ben Ayade and one of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) presidential aspirant, has declared that he is running for president and not senate.
Ayade said that he is in the presidential race to win and not running for senate as being speculated, saying his attention has been drawn to the purported purchase of senatorial nomination form in his name, those behind it did so without his knowledge or authorization.
A statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Christian Ita, the governor emphasized that the only election he is contesting is for the office of the president.
He said, “I make bold to say, and also reassure millions of my supporters across the country that I am in the presidential race to win and will pursue this ambition to its logical conclusion. “I am currently engrossed in octane consultations with critical party stakeholders on how to clinch the presidential ticket of my great party, the APC and have nothing to do with a purported Senate form bearing my name”
Describing the alleged Senate form as a distraction targeted at his presidential ambition, Ayade urged his supporters to remain resolute in their support and not to fall for “this distraction targeted at our collective resolve to reinvent Nigeria through our impending victory.”
Meanwhile Governor Ayade has submitted his presidential nomination and expression of intention forms through the Cross River State Chairman of APC, Mr Alphonsus Eba, in the office of the National Organizing Secretary of the party in Abuja.
Eba eulogized the governor for his achievements in the last seven years, declaring that Nigeria needs an Ayade to fix the country. “With near zero allocation, Ayade has been able to do magic in the state. We can boast of over 32 factories, network of roads and world class infrastructure strategically situated across the state. These great achievements and more will be replicated in Nigeria if Ayade becomes President”, he said.
