Ayade Aides defends governor’s absent at PDP Convention

Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade was conspicuous absent at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held in Abuja at the weekend; the first national gathering of the party since the Supreme Court judgement delivered in favour of Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman.

But Ayade’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita said Governor Ben Ayade was absent because he traveled abroad and is indisposed to attend the National Convention of his party. Interestingly, Prof Ayade was named alongside past governor, Mr. Donald Duke and immediate past governor, Senator Liyel Imoke as members of the planning committee.

Mr Ita told our Correspondent on phone on Sunday that Prof Ayade was represented by Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu. However, the Non-elective National Convention held by the party has extended, by four months, the tenure of Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the Caretaker Committee Chairman.

The extension is in order to allow time to, reorganise, strengthen and prepare the party to conduct an elective National Convention to elect new officers to pilot the affairs of the party.

Party members voted overwhelmingly for extension of the tenure of the Caretaker Committee at the convention, which held at the Eagles Square with over 5000 members in attendance.