Cross River Governor Ben Ayade's attempt to run for the Senate again after serving as governor was unsuccessful.

Ayade, who is nearing the end of his second term as governor, was a senator for the Cross River North from 2011 to 2015. He had hoped to serve in that capacity once more.

Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, the incumbent, won the election instead.

Ayade received 56,595 votes, while Agom-Jarigbe of the People's Democratic Party received 76,145.

“By the powers conferred on me as the Returning Officer of the Northern Senatorial District, I hereby announce Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party elected for the Northern Senatorial District,” the returning officer, Dr Emmanuel Emanghe, said.

Governor Ayade had risen to power as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was elected into the Senate in 2011 as a candidate of the party in 2011 and as Governor in 2015. He was also re-elected governor as a PDP member.

The governor, however, defected to the All Progressives Congress in 2021. Agom-Jarigbe, however, chose to remain the PDP.