DEFECTION: Cross River Gov. Ayade In Secret Meeting Buhari In Aso Rock

The Governor of Cross River State, Benedict Ayade reportedly had a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari today at the Aso Rock Presidental Villa, Abuja.

The meeting according to Vanguard News, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the arrival of Ayade at about 1p.m. Clutching ‎a file, the governor who dressed in white Niger Delta shirt and a black trousers was ushered into the president’s office. 

Meeting his absence, Ayade was later taken to meet the President at his residence in a waiting SUV. 

It was later gathered that the governor came to discuss the deep seaport project of his government.‎ 

It will be recalled that the proposed Bakassi deep seaport and the 260km superhighway are estimated to cost about N700 billion. The deep seaport is expected to boost the export of produce such as rice and banana as well as solid minerals.

Some political watchers, especially from Cross River State suggested that Ayade's visit to Buhari may not be unconnected with defection plan.

There are strong indications that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is making serious efforts towards gaining more grounds in the South-East and South- South ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The targets of the federal ruling party are some governors in the geo-political zones.The APC performed woefully in the two zones in the 2015 general elections, losing most of the areas, save for Imo State to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

That is in addition to Anambra State, which has been in the hands of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

To this end, report according to New Telegraph suggested that top leaders of the party are dangling carrots of automatic re-election to some first term governors in the two zones.

With the exception of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who has proven a stubborn fly for the APC, sources said that other governors in the two zones, who are in their first terms, but do not belong to the APC, are being targeted for the cross-over onslaught.

Sources close to the APC indicated that top on the list of those being approached are the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano; Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi; Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and that of Akwa Ibom, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

It was gathered that towards achieving the goal, some top shots of the APC in the two regions have been reaching out to the governors, with a view to convincing them to join the APC and ditch the PDP.

Ayade Fraudulent - PDP Asks Supreme Court To Sack Own Gov. Of C'River State

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday at the Supreme Court demanded the removal of Cross River Governor, Benedict Ayade, for alleged falsification of age.

Ayade had in August announced his intention to appoint 300 more aides, in addition to existing 800.

PDP, through its lawyer, Mr. N. Ibegbulam, told the apex court headed by Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour that it was in support of an appeal by Mr. Joe Agi, SAN, against Ayade.

Agi, also a PDP chieftain, came second in the governorship primary election of the PDP, held in the state on December 8, 2014.

He tendered exhibits before the court showing that Governor Ayade had in three different affidavits that were deposed to on oath, supplied conflicting dates as his year of birth, Vanguard reports.

Specifically, the evidence before the court showed that the 3rd respondent (Ayade) had in the Nomination Form, Code PD 003/G, which he used to contest the Cross River State election, stated on oath that he was born on March 2, 1969.

However, the age declaration he attached to the form, which his brother Frank Ayade swore to before a Cross River State High Court sitting at Oleh on February 1, 2007, indicated that the defendant was born in 1968.

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Moreover, the plaintiff tendered in evidence, a document that showed that the governor, while applying for admission into the University of Ibadan, gave an age declaration stating that he was born on March 2, 1966. The bio-data was allegedly issued by the University itself.

PDP told the apex court that it was satisfied that Ayade violated its Electoral Guidelines by furnishing it with wrong data about his age.

Ibegbulam said, “My Lords, after due consideration, we apply to concede to this appeal and consequently apply to withdraw the 1st respondent’s brief of argument dated May 17.

“We urge your lordships to find merit in the appeal and apply Article 14(b) and 15(2) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines which disqualifies any candidate that gives false age declaration.”

After listening to the parties, the apex court reserved its judgment till December 9.