Mr Donald Duke from the Southern Senatorial District led the state between 1999 to 2007, Sen. Liyel Imoke from the Central led from 2007 to 2015 while the present Gov. Ben Ayade from the North has led from 2015 to 2023.

Source: https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2023/03/05/why-we-want-power-rotation-cross-river-students/

The freezing relationship between the two political soul mates started far back in 2007 when the occasion came for Imoke to become governor of the state, but it did not excite Duke who propped up his then deputy, Water Eneji, to succeed him.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/04/south-south-where-political-godsons-outplayed-godfathers/