Longtime House of Representatives member, Essien Ayi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who has been in the National Assembly for 24 years has been defeated by a young politician he groomed, Joseph Bassey.

Bassey, current deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was declared winner early Monday morning by the INEC returning officer.

His victory has been received with thunderous joy in the southern area of the state.

Meanwhile, the PDP Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial district in the Senate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe defeated the state Governor, Prof Ben Ayade.

Agom who is seeking re-election into the National Assembly won the election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Jarigbe polled 76,145 votes to Ayade who scored 56, 595 votes.