Indications are becoming clearer, that Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe stands a better chance of getting re-elected to represent the Cross River Northern Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
On Thursday, while the senator undertook an inspection tour of project sites in the senatorial district, one of his rivals, Leghor Idagbo, formally stepped down from the race and declared support for him.
On the same day, a former governor of the state, Senator Ben Ayade, who is currently in a meeting with the president, Senator Bola Tinubu, sources said, will be told to pull out of the race, leaving only Jarigbe.
During the week, TNN learnt, The Presidency, with push from the leadership of the National Assembly, had cleared Jarigbe to contest. Jarigbe bought his nomination form on Wednesday before moving to his senatorial district for Thursday’s inspection tour.
During the tour, Jarigbe was accompanied by prominent stakeholders and thousands of supporters, including a serving commissioner from the area, who accompanied him to all the places.
TNN learnt that the governor, in order not to be seen as trying to stop Ayade from contesting the election, had to arrange for The Presidency to break the news to him, even though there were speculations that the president may offer him a ministerial appointment in the near future, if he could not get the senatorial seat.
A formal announcement of the outcome of Ayade’s meeting with the president is, however, still being awaited.
