Usani Usani, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, is among the 11 candidates jostling to take over the governorship seat of Cross River from incumbent Governor Ben Ayade.

A document displayed at the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), notes that 11 political parties are vying for the state’s governorship seat.

Mr Usani, who was minister between 2015 and 2019, would pursue his governorship ambition under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

The other candidates include Bassey Otu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Other political parties that fielded candidates are Labour Party (LP), All Peoples Party (APP), Young Progressive Party (YPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM).

Also fielding candidates are the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congresses (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Action Alliance (AA).

The former minister had in May dumped the ruling APC for the opposition PRP, so as to enable him to realise his governorship ambition in 2023.

He had left the APC over their consensus arrangement for the governorship ticket which had 17 aspirants jostling for the ticket.

Mr Usani was one of the pioneer members of the APC in the state and was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Niger Delta Affairs Minister in November 2015.

He has contested for the state governorship three times – in 2003, 2011, and 2019.

(NAN)