Drama As Ayade Loses Senate Seat In Cross River

Governor Ben Ayade has lost his bid to return to the Senate following his defeat by the incumbent senator representing Cross River North, Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.

However, the declaration of the victory of the incumbent PDP senator over Ayade who flew the ticket of the APC was overtaken by drama as the returning officer could not immediately issue Senator Agom-Jarigbe his declaration form as it was said to have been mistakenly taken to Obudu.

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 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 76,145 votes.

The returning officer, Dr Emmanuel Emanghe, who spoke on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the result for the polls around 3:05 a.m. on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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.

Similarly, Ayade who is serving out his two-term as Governor of the state, sought to replace Agom-Jarigbe at the Senate representing Northern senatorial district of Cross River but lost.

However, the re-elected Senator could not be issued with the Declaration Form after his declaration by the retuning officer.

Upon demand for the Declaration Form, Agom-Jarigbe was told that it was mistakenly taken to Obudu by the electoral body in the state.

Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been held in the commission’s office in Ogoja, Cross River over the alleged missing “Declaration Form.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trouble started when after the declaration of Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe as the winner of the Cross River North senatorial district election and he could not be issued with the “Declaration Form” upon demand.

The Ogoja Electoral Officer, Mr Peter Kolo tried to convince the Senator that it would be issued later since the one meant for the senator-elect was not readily available.

This, however, infuriated supporters of the senator who demanded that it be issued immediately or no one would be allowed to leave the office premises.

However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Gabriel Yomere said, when responding through a phone call, that he sent the form along with other electoral materials.

Agom-Jarigbe’s supporters, however, blocked the gate of the compound and said no staff of the commission would be allowed to go out until the Declaration Form was presented to the Senator elect.

NAN reports that the issue, which started around 3:05 a.m., was yet to be sorted out as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Godwin Offiono of the PDP, was returned elected for the Ogoji/Yala Federal Constituency election.

Offiono defeated the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Mr Jude Ngaji of the All Progressives Congress, by 36,651 votes to 32,973 votes.

The Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency result was announced by Dr Wakasor Ofem.

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