Ayade begs rivals to withdraw petitions

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has begged petitioners challenging his re-election at the March 9, 2109 polls to drop their complaints.

Speaking yesterday during the pre-inaugural thanksgiving service at St. Charles’s Lwanga Catholic Church in Calabar, he pleaded with his rivals toe the path of politicians in Enugu State who withdrew their cases against Governor Ifeanyi Igwuanyi in deference to their Christian faith.

A statement from the governor’s office quoted the Ayade as saying: “The main contending parties in the tribunal are Catholics and I believe that the leadership of the Catholic Church in Cross River State has a duty to call us to a roundtable and settle the case.

“For me as a Catholic, I have extended my hand of fellowship and will never bear any grudges against anyone for what ever reason arising from the election or any other matter.”

The main contenders are Senator John Owan-Enoh and the Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Usani of the All Progressives Congress (APC).