Two prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Cross River State have responded to former governor and senator Ben Ayade’s recent remarks that the party treated him unfairly despite his loyalty. Hon. Bravo Gabriel Oluohu and former presidential aide Okoi Obono‑Obla dismissed Ayade’s complaints as misplaced, arguing that he is responsible for his own political setbacks since leaving office.
Oluohu pointed out that Ayade’s decision to contest the party’s 2022 presidential primary—despite having slim chances of success—undermined his standing within the APC. He noted that, although the party offered Ayade a senatorial ticket, he was rejected by the electorate, a result that was not the party’s fault. Oluohu also alleged that Ayade withheld campaign funds during the 2023 elections, an act reported to President Bola Tinubu and viewed as a betrayal.
Obono‑Obla similarly criticized Ayade’s claim that he “socketed” Cross River State to the political centre, calling it “bunkum, balderdash and despicable revisionism.” He reminded that the APC had already established deep roots in the state before Ayade’s defection in 2020, thanks to founding figures such as Alex Irek, Ntufam Hilliard Etta, and himself. Obono‑Obla recalled facilitating a 2015 visit by prominent PDP leaders to then‑president‑elect Buhari, which led to appointments and the siting of a federal polytechnic in Ugep. He accused Ayade of rewarding only his loyalists after his defection while sidelining those who built the APC in Cross River.
Both chieftains urged Ayade to stop distorting history, emphasizing that the APC’s success in Cross River State was a collective struggle, not the achievement of a single individual. Their responses highlight ongoing internal dynamics within the APC, as Ayade’s comments spark debate over his legacy and the party’s history in the state. The controversy is likely to continue, with potential implications for the party’s future in the region.
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