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From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has lost his bid to return to the Senate following his defeat by the incubent Senator representing Cross River North, Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe.
Ayade who was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, lost the National Assembly (NASS) 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, announced the result for the polls at 3:05am on Monday.
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.
Simirlarly, Ayade who is serving out his two term as Governor of the state, sort to replace Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe as the Senator representing Northern senatorial district of Cross River.
However, the re-elected Senator could not be issued with the declaration form by the retuning officer, fuelling speculation of foul play.
Upon demand for the certificate, Agom-Jarigbe was told that it was mistakenly taken to Obudu by the electoral body in the state.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, who spoke on phone, said, “the certificate was mistakingly taken to Obudu but he can be issued with a temporary one pending when the original one will be brought.”
But when contacted, the Electoral Oficer (EO) for Ogoja, Mr. Peter Kolo, said he was no given any declaration form.
