2019 Cross River State gubernatorial election

The Governor of Cross River State is elected using the plurality voting system.

The PDP primary election was held on 30 September 2018. Earlier on, Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi, who was diequalified by the party from contesting in the primary election just about 24 hours before the exercise,{{Cite news |url=https://m.guardian.ng/politics/protesters-reject-cross-river-pdp-guber-primaries/amp/ |title=Protesters reject Cross River PDP guber primaries |last=Olatunji |first=Kehinde |date=October 16, 2018 |work= The Guardian |access-date=April 5, 2021}} sued the party and state governor for his disqualification, in court.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/11/03/ibeshi-sues-pdp-inec-ayade-for-n1-2b-over-disqualification-from-governorship-primary/ |title=Ibeshi Sues PDP, INEC, Ayade for N1.2b over Disqualification from Governorship Primary |date=November 3, 2018 |last=Akintunde |first=Akinwale |publisher=This Day Live |access-date=April 3, 2021}}

• Party nominee: Benedict Ayade: Incumbent governor.
• Running mate: Ivara Esu
• Emmanuel Ibeshi: (Disqualified)

The Guardian and Today Nigeria reported five candidates seeking to unseat the incumbent governor.{{Cite news |url=https://m.guardian.ng/politics/cross-river-apc-enmeshed-in-three-sided-crisis/amp/ |title=Cross River APC enmeshed in three-sided crisis |last=Akpan |first=Nietie |date=September 27, 2018 |work=The Guardian |access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.today.ng/news/politics/2019-cross-river-apc-adopts-direct-primaries-150629 |title=2019: Cross River APC adopts direct primaries |last=Inyang |first=Idorenyin |date=September 7, 2018 |publisher=Today Nigeria |access-date=April 5, 2021}} A crisis earlier developed in the state's APC party,{{Cite news |url=https://www.blueprint.ng/cross-river-primaries-apc-asks-court-to-strike-out-usanis-case/ |title=Cross River Primaries: APC asks court to strike out Usani's case |date=November 28, 2018 |publisher=Blueprint |access-date=April 5, 2021}} causing it to be divided into two factions:{{Cite news |url=https://dailypost.ng/2019/01/30/2019-controversy-apc-parades-two-governorship-candidates-cross-river/ |title=2019: Controversy as APC parades two governorship candidates in Cross River |date=January 30, 2019 |last=Edem |first=Edem |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=April 16, 2021}} The Etim John faction and the other faction. The Etim John faction's results were are follows: Usani Uguru Usani 47,313 votes, John Owan Enoh 1,486 votes, Eyo Etim Nyong 1,052 votes, Edem Duke 1,322 votes, and John Odey 1,099 votes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/2019-intra-party-tensions-as-more-pdp-apc-candidates-emerge/ |title=2019: Intra-party tensions, as more PDP, APC candidates emerge |date=October 2, 2018 |publisher=Vanguard |location=Abuja |access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/2019-apc-fortunes-in-cross-river/ |title=2019: APC fortunes in Cross-River |last=Egburonu |first=Sam |publisher=The Nation |access-date=April 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://punchng.com/confusion-as-two-apc-gov-primaries-hold-in-c-river/ |title=Confusion as two APC gov primaries hold in Cross River |date=October 2, 2018 |publisher=Punch |access-date=April 5, 2021}} However, the official results were announced by the Chairman of Electoral Committee, Ali Magaji, pronouncing John Owan-Enoh winner{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/media-45764196 |title=2019 Election: Confam list of APC Govnorship candidates |date=October 5, 2018 |publisher=BBC News |language=pcm|access-date=April 5, 2021}} with 82,272 votes out of the 101,212 votes cast. Edem Duke was said to have had 7,367 votes while Usani Usani polled 1,778 votes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/2019-election-sen-owan-enoh-wins-apc-gubernatorial-primaries-in-cross-river/nsf76jr |title=Sen. Owan-Enoh Wins APC gubernatorial primaries in Cross River |date=October 2, 2018 |author=Nurudeen |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |website=Pulse Nigeria |access-date=April 5, 2021}} There were a total of 106,212 accredited voters who cast 117 invalid votes. The elections were held on September 30, 2018.{{Cite news |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/287849-senator-emerges-cross-river-apc-governorship-candidate.html |title=Senator emerges Cross River APC governorship candidate |date=October 2, 2018 |publisher=Premium Times |access-date=April 5, 2021}}

The official results were strongly opposed by three other contestants, led by Usani,{{Cite news |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/10/04/cross-river-governorship-apc-aspirants-reject-primary-election/ |title=Cross River Governorship APC Aspirants Reject Primary Election |date=October 4, 2018 |last=Ezigbo |first=Onyebuchi |location=Abuja |publisher=This Day Live |access-date=April 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://dailytrust.com/apc-primaries-3-aspirant-call-for-cross-river-guber-cancellation-urge-nwc-to-intervene |title=APC Primaries: 3 Aspirant Call For Cross River Guber Cancellation, Urge NWC To Intervene |last=Bamas |first=Victoria |date=October 7, 2018 |publisher=Daily Trust |access-date=April 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201810040477.html |title=Nigeria: Cross River Governorship APC Aspirants Reject Primary Election |date=October 4, 2018 |publisher=This Day |location=Lagos |last=Ezigbo |first=Onyebuchi |website=All Africa |access-date=April 5, 2021}} who was also rejected by the APC as a candidate.{{Cite news |url=http://themedianonline.com/en/index.php/about-us/9-news/464-usani-not-our-governorship-candidate-in-cross-river-apc |title=Usani not our governorship candidate in Cross River –APC |last=Gill |first=Nsa |publisher=The Median |access-date=April 5, 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} However, a court ruling affirmed Enoh as the candidate for the party.{{Cite news |url=https://plustvafrica.com/court-affirms-sen-enoh-as-cross-river-apc-governorship-candidate/ |title=Court Affirms Sen. Enoh As Cross River APC Governorship Candidate |last=Ogboko |first=Francis I. |publisher=Plus TV Africa |access-date=April 5, 2021}}

• Party nominee: John Owan Enoh: Winner.{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/2019-apc-will-sweep-polls-in-cross-river-guber-candidate/ |title=2019: APC will sweep polls in Cross River – Guber candidate |date=December 9, 2018 |publisher=Vanguard |access-date=April 16, 2021}}
• Running mate: Ntufam Ekpo Okon.
• Edem Duke: 1st Runner-up
• Usani Usani: 2nd Runner-up
• Eyo Etim Nyong
• John Odey

A total of 26 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP Governor Benedict Ayade won re-election for a second term, defeating APC's Owan Enoh John (who despite being delisted by a Calabar High Court order from the elections,{{Cite news |url=https://leadership.ng/march-9-elections-court-removes-all-apc-candidates-in-cross-river/?amp=1 |title=March 9 Elections: Court Removes All APC Candidates In Cross River |date=March 6, 2019 |publisher=Leadership |access-date=April 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://punchng.com/inec-election-result-2019-why-apc-failed-in-cross-river-obla/ |title=INEC Election Result 2019: Why APC failed in Cross River —Obla |last=Wodu |first=Ada |date=February 26, 2019 |publisher=Punch |access-date=April 8, 2021}} still had his party logo on the ballot paper), and several minor party candidates. Ayade polled 381,484 votes representing 73.04% of total vote cast, and Enoh 131,161 votes representing 25.11%. SDP's Eyo Ekpo came third with 4,818 votes representing 0.92% of total valid votes cast.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/resources/idt-dd618550-906f-44b7-a5d9-78ecc4e9b349 |title=Di Nigeria Governorship Election Results for 2019 {{!}} Live Coverage |date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=BBC News |language=pcm|access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://nigeriaelections.stearsng.com/state/CR/governor/2019 |title=2019 General Elections {{!}} Governorship Election Results |publisher=Stears |access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.legit.ng/1226691-election-2019-ayade-wins-election-governor-cross-river.html |title=Election 2019: Ayade wins re-election as governor of Cross River |last=Ukwu |first=Jerrywright |date=March 11, 2019 |publisher=Legit.ng |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/319459-ayade-wins-re-election-as-governor-of-cross-river.html |title=Ayade wins re-election as governor of Cross River |date=March 11, 2019 |publisher=Premium Times |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://punchng.com/breaking-inec-declares-ayade-winner-of-cross-river-governorship-election/ |title=INEC declares Ayade winner of Cross River governorship election |last=Wodu |first=Ada |date=March 11, 2019 |publisher=Punch |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/11/ayade-wins-cross-river-governorship-election |title=Ayade Wins Cross River Governorship Election |date=March 11, 2019 |location=New York |publisher=Sahara Reporters |access-date=April 8, 2021}} The APC, however, rejected this result.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/apc-rejects-governorship-state-assembly-election-results-in-cross-river-delta/k04h5hq.amp |title=APC rejects governorship, state assembly election results in Cross River, Delta |date=March 12, 2019 |last=Ezugwu |first=Benson |publisher=News Agency Of Nigeria |website=Pulse Nigeria |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://dailytrust.com/apc-rejects-cross-river-governorship-result |title=APC Rejects Cross River Governorship Result |last=Odeyemi |first=Joshua |date=March 11, 2019 |publisher=Daily Trust |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://businessday.ng/politics/article/confusion-as-apc-asks-inec-to-declare-c-rivers-election-inconclusive-weeks-after-polls-date/ |title=Confusion as APC asks INEC to declare C/Rivers election inconclusive weeks after polls date |last=Kwen |first=James |date=March 18, 2019 |publisher=Business Day |access-date=April 16, 2021}}

The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,486,026 while 542,115 voters were accredited. Total number of votes cast was 533,808, while total number of valid votes was 522,309. Total rejected votes were 11,499.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-47468806 |title=Nigeria 2019 Governorship Elections: Why Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Cross Rivers and Kano na states to watch |date=March 7, 2019 |publisher=BBC News |language=pcm|access-date=April 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=http://paradisenews.ng/39996/crs-guber-state-assembly-election-results/amp |title=LIVE: C'River Governorship and State Assembly election results |date=March 9, 2019 |publisher=Paradise News}}{{Cite news |url=https://businessday.ng/politics/article/why-we-declared-ayade-winner-of-cross-river-governorship-election-inec/ |title=Why we declared Ayade winner of Cross River governorship election – INEC |date=March 23, 2019 |last=Abang |first=Mike |location=Calabar |publisher=Business Day |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://m.guardian.ng/news/ayade-wins-cross-river-governorship-election/ |title=Ayade wins Cross-River governorship election |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |date=March 11, 2019 |website=Guardian |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.naijanews.com/2019/03/10/result-from-cross-rivers-election/ |title=Result From Cross Rivers Election |last=Falade |first=Faderera |date=March 10, 2021 |publisher=Naija News |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.okay.ng/cross-river-2019-official-governorship-election-results-live-updates/ |title=Cross River 2019: Official governorship election results – LIVE UPDATES |publisher=Okay.ng |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/inec-cancels-governorship-election-in-3-cross-river-lgas/ |title=NIGERIA DECIDES 2019 {{!}} INEC cancels governorship election in 3 Cross River LGAs |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Ripples Nigeria |access-date=April 8, 2021}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Ayade Benedict Bengiousuye|party1=People's Democratic Party (PDP)|votes1=381484

|cand2=John Owan Enoh|party2=All Progressives Congress (APC)|votes2=131161

|cand3=Eyo Ekpo O.|party3=Social Democratic Party (SDP) |votes3=4818

|cand4=Ntan Ebaye Ekpa|party4=National Conscience Party (NCP)|votes4=1092

|cand5=Edward Eniad Ugbe|party5=Action Democratic Party (ADP)|votes5=648

|cand6=Ushie Tony Ashibesibe|party6=African Democratic Congress (ADC)|votes6=490

|cand7=Charles Inah Okoi|party7=Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD)|votes7=360

|cand8=Undie Emmanuel Ugbong|party8=Young Democratic Party (YDP)|votes8=345

|cand9=Ali Patrick|party9=Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA)|votes9=305

|cand10=Ezama Castro Adoga|party10=Young Progressive Party (YPP)|votes10=271

|cand11=Uzong George Moses|party11=All Blending Party (ABP)|votes11=262

|cand12=Ngang Bassey Ngang|party12=Democratic People's Party (DPP)|votes12=244

|cand13=Ntami Nkanu Esege|party13=People's Party of Nigeria (PPN)|votes13=124

|cand14=Ofem Ubi Oka |party14=Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN)|votes14=109

|cand15=Arit Edet Aikpong|party15=National Action Council (NAC)|votes15=107

|cand16=Ebughe Kenneth|party16=Alliance for Democracy (AD)|votes16=95

|cand17=Omari Fredrick Eje|party17=Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP)|votes17=78

|cand18=Michael Sunday|party18=Independent Democrats (ID)|votes18=60

|cand19=Ubi Hossana Ukonu|party19=Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC)|votes19=52

|cand20=Godwin Daniel Pastor|party20=Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA)|votes20=49

|cand21=Eno Eno Enang|party21=Accord (A)|votes21=34

|cand22=Mkposong Ekete Mkposong|party22=Kowa Party (KP)|votes22=33

|cand23=Charles Offiong|party23=Democratic Alternative (DA)|votes23=27

|cand24=Inah Thomas Enyi|party24=Coalition for Change (C4C)|votes24=25

|cand25=Ekeng Effiom Effiom|party25=Action Alliance (AA)|votes25=22

|cand26=Morphy Pamela Ubagidi|party26=Change Advocacy Party (CAP)|votes26=14

|invalid=11499

|electorate=1486026

|source=INEC{{Cite news |url=https://www.inecnigeria.org/2019-governorship-election-results/ |title=2019 Governorship Elections Results |publisher=INEC |access-date=March 31, 2021 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410220834/https://www.inecnigeria.org/2019-governorship-election-results/ |url-status=dead }}

}}

Here are the results of the election from the local government areas of the state for the two major parties. The total valid votes of 522,309 represents the 26 political parties that participated in the election. Green represents LGAs won by Ayade. Blue represents LGAs won by Enoh.{{Cite news |url=https://dailypost.ng/2019/03/10/cross-river-state-governorship-election-live-results-collation-center/ |title=Cross River State governorship election: Live results from collation center |last=Nseyen |first=Nsikak |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://nigeriaelections.stearsng.com/state/CR/governor/2019 |title=2019 General Elections {{!}} Governorship Election Results |date=August 4, 2019 |publisher=Stears |access-date=April 8, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2019/03/10/updates-governorship-election-results-for-cross-river/ |title=Updates: Governorship Election Results For Cross River |publisher=Channels TV |access-date=April 8, 2021}}

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{{2019 Nigeria elections}}

{{Nigerian state and local elections}}

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Cross River State gubernatorial election

Cross River State gubernatorial election

Category:Cross River State gubernatorial elections

Category:2019 Cross River State elections