Incumbent PDP Governor Benedict Ayade won re-election for a second term, defeating APC's John Owan Enoh, and several minor party candidates.

[6] John Owan Enoh emerged the APC candidate in the gubernatorial primary election.

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

[9] The Guardian and Today Nigeria reported five candidates seeking to unseat the incumbent governor.

[19] The official results were strongly opposed by three other contestants, led by Usani,[20][21][22] who was also rejected by the APC as a candidate.

[24] A total of 26 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.

[8] 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,[26][27] still had his party logo on the ballot paper[28]), and several minor party candidates.