Ayade who was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, lost the National Assembly elections conducted on Saturday with 56,595 votes against Agom-Jarigbe’s of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who scored 76,145 votes.

The returning officer, Dr Emmanuel Emanghe, who spoke on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced the result for the polls around 3:05 a.m. on Monday.

Agom-Jarigbe, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, was elected into the Senate through a bye-election in September 2021 following the death of Dr Rose Okoh.

Simirlarly, Ayade who is serving out his two-term as Governor of the state, sought to replace Agom-Jarigbe as the Senator representing Northern senatorial district of Cross River.

However, the re-elected Senator could not be issued with the Declaration Form after his declaration by the retuning officer.

Upon demand for the Declaration Form, Agom-Jarigbe was told that it was mistakenly taken to Obudu by the electoral body in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, who spoke on phone said, “the form was mistakingly taken to Obudu but he can be issued with a temporary one pending when the original one will be brought.”

Meanwhile, Godwin Offiono of the PDP, was returned elected for the Ogoji/Yala Federal Constituency election.

Offiono defeated the incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Mr Jude Ngaji of the All Progressives Congress, by 36,651 votes to 32,973 votes.

The Ogoja/Yala Federal constituency result was announced by Dr. Wakasor Ofem.

Source: NAN

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She was kidnapped on Wednesday in Calabar.

An eye witness, Mr Samuel Okon, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that she was forcefully taken out of her official car by masked young men.

According to Okon, they took the commissioner away in their car and abandoned her own car in Calabar South.

Mr Kalita Aruku, Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Information, confirmed her kidnap in a telephone interview with NAN.

“Yes, security sources have informed us that the Commissioner for Women Affairs has been kidnapped.

“As we speak, security operatives have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers with a view to arrest them and rescue the victim unharmed,” he said.

Source: NAN

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The cultural parade designed to showcase the country’s rich cultures was attended by cultural troupes from the north and south.

The states that were on ground to perform at the cultural parade included Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Kogi, Oyo and the host Cross River, amongst others.

It was learnt that six more states were still on their way to the Paradise City at the time of filing the report.

Declaring the event open, the host, Governor Ben Ayade, disclosed that the Calabar carnival had become a brand that other states looked forward to.

Ayade, represented by Deputy Governor Ivara Esu, said the parade would showcase the cultures of different states and 18 local government areas of the state.

He said that the event would help to reveal “the multifarious nature of Nigeria’s cultural heritage”.

He said: “No matter where you come from, you are likely to identify with one form of the culture or the other on display today, this is important.

“We are exiting as a government but the Calabar Carnival and the Cultural Parade will remain, this is because Calabar has become a brand.”

Also, the Executive Secretary of the Carnival Commission, Mr Austin Cobhams, said the parade was a fusion of cultures in Nigeria.

Cobhams said that apart from showing the world what the state could offer, they were using the festival to see how Nigeria could speak about unity with one voice through culture and tourism.

The Chairman, Calabar Festival Committee, Mr Ken Akla, said the parade was a mixture of the country’s cultures intended to showcase the country’s heritage.

According to Akla, the state was also using the event to present to the world, Cross River’s biggest export, which was its culture, tradition and people.

The Bikers’ Parade and Miss Africa Beauty Pageant are slated to take place on December 27.

Source: NAN      

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The clan head of the community, Chief Bernard Egbe, stated this when he received the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Sandy Onor, who was in the community to empathise with them.

The clan head who described the situation as unfortunate, said many infected with the disease were receiving treatment at various health facilities in the area.

He further said that four of the victims receiving treatment were in critical condition.

He said they had been receiving support from WHO, UNICEF and some officials from the state government.

He said that the cholera outbreak which started on Thursday affected 10 villages that make up the Ekureku clan.

The PDP governorship candidate, while noting that he felt the pains of the people, however, urged them to remain hopeful.

He said that if elected, he would ensure safe drinking water for the people of the state.

He donated cash as palliatives to all the 10 affected villages in Ekureku community.

Meanwhile, Dr Janet Ekpeyong, Director-General of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, on Sunday said that the state government was on top of the situation.

She said that the government had deployed human and material resources to curtail the spread of the disease.

READ ALSO: Cholera: NCDC registers 4,153 infections, 80 deaths in September

“The state government has deployed a response team together with representatives from the World Health Organisation, the Nigerian Red Cross and Wash Programme.

“The combined team have all intervened accordingly and helped to save lives and prevent further spread of the disease,” she stated.

Similarly, another outbreak of the disease has been reported in a remote village in Odukpani local government area of the state.

The case was disclosed by Dr Iwara Iwara, Permanent Secretary of the state ministry of health.

Iwara said that the outbreak was reported on Sunday night and that the government had deployed men and material resources to the area.

Source: NAN

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The announcement of the dethronement and decertification is contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr Linus Obogo, in Calabar on Tuesday.

Obogo said that the dethronement and decertification are with immediate effect.

Both Nko and Oyadama communities have been enmeshed in a feud over a piece of land.

He added that the dethronement of the two clan heads and all other traditional rulers in the two warring communities were as a result of the intractable communal clashes.

Obogo said the ownership of the disputed land had been revoked and taken over by the state government for overriding public interest.

“Similarly, the government has ordered the sustenance of army operations in the Nko community until those behind the shooting of the six military personnel are fished out,” he added.

Some Nko youths allegedly shot an army commander on Saturday evening alongside six other soldiers.

Source: NAN

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Tinubu, a national leader of the APC, is also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the party.

During the visit, he paid homage to the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, and met the governor of the state, Ben Ayade.

With Tinubu on the visit were Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura; former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima; former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Presidential Aide, Mallam Yau Darazo, and Chairman of TETFUND, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, among others.

Images show Tinubu and others during the occasion.

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He said his death at 80 represented the end of an era in the socio-political evolution of Nigeria, adding that the late former Senate President was until his death one of the few remaining notable politicians who played vital roles in the politics of Nigeria’s Second Republic.

In a condolence message released by his Media Office in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu, who is also a former Senator, noted that as a politician, Dr. Wayas was excellent, and as a patriot, he served the country brilliantly in and out of public office.

He said: “The passing on Thursday of Dr. Joseph Wayas at 80 is the end of an era in the socio-political evolution of Nigeria. The late former Senate President was until his death one of the few remaining notable politicians who played important roles in the politics of the Second Republic.

“His wisdom, uncanny humour, deep knowledge and understanding of Nigeria would be missed by the younger generation.

“Dr. Wayas’ most outstanding contribution to national development, unity and progress of Nigeria was when he served as the Senate President from 1979-83. He led the National Assembly, that important institution and arm of government, with exemplary commitment.

“As a prominent statesman of his era, he worked across ethnic regional and political divides to foster national unity, cohesion and stability. Elected on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, his deft management of the National Assembly with a Speaker of the House of Representatives who was not of same political party with him in a government of national unity was a testament to his character as a unifier and high capacity in people management.

“Importantly, Senator Wayas also engaged in continuous service to the country and his Cross Rivers state long after public office. He enriched the political process by being such an active political player that he even aspired to the highest office in the land in 1999.

“I commiserate with his family, associates and friends. I commiserate with Governor Ben Ayade and the great people of Cross River. My condolences must also go to members of the National Assembly and indeed the people of Nigeria on his demise. May God Almighty comfort all the people he left behind and accept his soul.”

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He died in the early hours of Tuesday at a London hospital at the age of 80.

Wayas was Nigeria’s Senate President between 1979 and 1983.

The announcement of his death was made by the Special Adviser to Cross River State Governor on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, in a statement.

Ita said the governor of the state, Ben Ayade, described the death of Wayas as a monumental loss to the state and Nigeria in general.

The statement reads in part: “As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem. The demise of Dr Wayas is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria.

“As Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership.

“Since his retirement from active politics, the former senate president had been playing a fatherly and stabilising role in the politics and affairs of our state.”

Commiserating with the family of the deceased, Ayade was quoted as having said: “We are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers.’’

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Mr Linus Obogo, Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Monday in Calabar.

Obogo said the decision to suspend the annual festival was reached at a meeting with the governor, the State Executive Council members and stakeholders of the carnival.

According to him, the decision to suspend the Calabar carnival was unanimous.

“The gathering was to unveil the theme of this year’s carnival but based on the emergence of the new variant called omicron and the advice by health experts that it kills faster than other variant, the governor then puts it before the stakeholders and it was unanimously agreed that the carnival be suspended.

“The carnival band leaders and other stakeholders agreed that for the purpose of public health and safety, the carnival be suspended.

“Also, there is an emerging security report which indicates that the event may be taken over by some hoodlums.

“To avoid all of these from happening, it was advised that the carnival be suspended so that people are not caught unawares,” Obogo said.

Recall that the State Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Mr Eric Anderson, on November 28 said the annual festival would be held inside the U.J. Esuene Sport Stadium due to COVID-19.

Anderson said the stadium would help to control the crowd and space the seating arrangement for people to watch the live show.

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The news was shared on Gedoni’s fiancee, Khafi’s Instagram page, @ acupofkhafi on Monday.

According to her, Gedoni is now the Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River on Garment Factory and Branding.”

She wrote: All we do is WHAT…? Congratulations baby! #Repost @hitfmcalabar •

@gedoni has been appointed as the special assistant to Gov Ben Ayade on Garment Factory and Branding. #gedoni #crossriver #calabar #khafi #khadoni,”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that recently, Governor Ayade appointed music mogul, Ubi Franklin, as his Special Adviser on Tourism.

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