TheCable

Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River state, has asked governors in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support his presidential bid.

In a post on Facebook, Ayade said his strategy to clinch the ticket of the party has been quiet and non-controversial, and that he has been in touch with delegates across the country.

“I am calling on all my colleagues to support my ambition as PRESIDENT of our great nation,” Ayade wrote.

“Mine is our collective project where shared responsibility of the incoming government lies with us all.

“My strategy has been quiet, non-controversial but in touch with the entire delegates nationwide. Let me be your last joker. Thank you so much.”

The presidential primary election of the APC is currently taking place at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

A total of 23 presidential hopefuls were screened for the party’s primary election, but only 13 were shortlisted for the exercise by the screening panel of the party.

Ayade is among the 10 presidential hopefuls that did not make the “safe list”.

Following the screening, northern APC governors announced their decision to support power shift to the south and asked northern presidential hopefuls to withdraw from the race.

TheCable had reported how APC governors recommended five of the presidential hopefuls for the party’s primary election.

According to Simon Lalong, Plateau governor, the hopefuls recommended to contest, according are Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation; Bola Tinubu, former Lagos governor; Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti governor; David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

However, five presidential hopefuls, including Ayade, rejected the APC governors’ list, describing it as “an extreme joke”.