Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has failed in his bid to return to the Senate.

Out of the five councils in the North Senatorial District, Ayade, who contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC), won in only one, while the incumbent, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Cross River North Senatorial District, won in four, in a result declared in the early hours of yesterday.

He polled 76,145 votes to defeat Ayade, who scored 56, 595 votes

While declaring Jarigbe winner, the Returning Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Emanghe, who spoke on behalf of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), commended everyone, who made successful poll possible.

He also thanked security agents for giving needed back up that ensured hitchfree election.

“By the powers conferred on me as a returning officer, I hereby announced and declare Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the winner of just-concluded Cross River North Senatorial District election.

In Ayade’s Obudu community, some residents said his defeat was a protest against alleged poor treatment they received from him as governor, particularly failure to empower them.

MEANWHILE INEC declared Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Anthony Udoh, said the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs satisfied all conditions, including polling 115,401 majority votes.

The PDP candidate, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, who came a distant second, polled 69,838 votes.