Breaking: Governor Ben Ayade remains Cross Rivers governor, Court declares

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared that Prof. Ben Ayade remains governor of Cross River State as it declared illegal, his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The court refuses to declare his seat vacant.

In a judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo Thursday, the Court held that the removal of a sitting governor and his deputy can only be in line with constitutional provisions, noting the judiciary lacks the powers to remove an elected officer.

Details later