By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, on Monday in Ogoja, the headquarters of Cross River North senatorial district lost out the senatorial bid to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, in a keen contest for the senatorial district by both political heavyweights.
The digital governor, as he is often called by friends and associates, had some decades ago represented Cross River North senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly for just one term, before quitting the seat after one tenure to pursue his governorship ambition where he served for two terms before launching a bid to return to the Senate.
Senator Jarigbe, who was seeking re-election into the National Assembly pulled 76,145 votes to defeat his All Progressives Congress, APC, opponent, Governor Ayade, who scored 56,595 votes
Declaring Jarigve as winner of the National Assembly election, the Returning Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Emanghe, on behalf the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lauded all the stakeholders who made it possible for the exercise to be fruitful.
Emanghe praised all security agencies for giving the neccesary back up which led to the successful conduct of the election.
He said, “By the powers conferred on me as the Returning Officer, I hereby announce and declare Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as winner of just concluded Cross River North senatorial district election.
