Ayade joins 2023 presidential race

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has joined the race for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 election.

The governor, who met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, said he informed the president of his ambition.

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Ayade, who said President Buhari advised him to do more consultation before declaring, added that he came to seek spiritual and political guidance from the President on who would take over from him come 2023 for continuity sake.

He said security, economy, electricity and employment will be his focus should he become the president.

The governor, who promised to replicate what he did in Cross River, stated that if the presidency was zoned to the South, he was willing to take up the challenge as the only APC governor in the South South.