Ayade zoning Guber ticket to South won’t work – APC Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State, Barr. Joseph Odok has said that the decision for the State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade to zone the party governorship ticket to the Southern Senatorial District come 2023 won’t hold water.

Odok, one of the pioneers of the party in the State, asserted this in a statement made available to THE PARADISE NEWS on Saturday, January 8, 2022, adding that the ticket should be thrown open for everyone to contest as Nigeria is a democratic country.

Recall that the media have been filled with stories of zoning with some saying the Diamond Hill seat be left for those in the South. While many have disagreed, politicians from the Central, most especially, have come out to declare to also contest for the position.

It has been rumoured that Governor Ayade may allegedly give the ticket to one of his Commissioners – and very recently, campaign posters of Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr., Commissioner for Finance (from South) and Dr Betta Edu, Commissioner for Health (Central) have surfaced on Social Media for Governor and Deputy under the APC.



However, the APC Chieftain said the Governor’s decision to impose a candidate will be fought by many, advising that deep consultations be made before such a decision should be taken.

“Governor Ayade’s APC gubernatorial zoning pronouncement in favour of the South is set to hit a rock.

“I can boldly say that Governor Sir Benedict Ayade is standing alone in his pronouncements on zoning APC gubernatorial position to the South. He did it at his whims and caprices without consultation with any stakeholder in APC.

“The party is surely more than Governor Ayade and I have spoken to some APC stakeholders in Central wishing to run for the Gubernatorial position. Let me keep quiet now but declaration against Governor Ayade’s attempts to impose zoning to the South will be fought by many in the coming days.

“In a democracy, everyone has a right to vote and be voted for and the Governor will not go far with his unilateral decisions without consultation with relevant stakeholders. People to watch in central with gubernatorial ambition according to strong speculations are Chief Bar Chris Agara and Distinguished Senator John Owan Enoh.

“Let it roll, it won’t be long for the truth to unfold”, Odok said.