The rank of presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressive Congress has swollen on Tuesday as the Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade declared his intention to run.
The Governor met with President Muhammadu Buhari whom he said advised him on further consultations.
Ayade said he had a lengthy discussion with the President over his ambition adding that he came to seek spiritual and political guidance from the President.
Ayade said he will replicate what he did in Cross River, adding that if the presidency is zoned to the South, he is willing to take up the challenge as the only APC governor in the south south.
“I believe that the party leadership will decide on the appropriate candidate that will take our party to victory. And so, if you heard me well, I am just part of the family; absolutely loyal to the president, seeking to run for the president. And I am running. But at any point in time that the political leadership of my party, the APC feels that president Jonathan is the appropriate candidate that will actually take us to victory, I will turn my support for him.
“I am never, ever going to fight the establishment, the institution, the aristocracy, the spiritual vortex of which God has placed a leader of a country. I will never question the powers of the leader of a country. I have never played politics of antagonism or fight.
“I became governor by offering to suppprt whoever the governor (Imoke) wanted and by stroke of luck, I became the candidate.
“By the same token, I am only here to support the president’s candidate and by a stroke of luck, he said, you too go there and join the race and let me see.”
Ayade joins the rank of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor Bola Tinubu, Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Governor Dave Umahi who have all declared to run for presidency.