President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, welcomed the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ayade who two weeks ago defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Though he was expected to be introduced by the leadership of the APC, he was led to the President by Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
Ayade said until he defected to be ruling party, he was a committed and dedicated member of the PDP.
He said he still have great respect for his former party, the PDP, because it was the platform that gave him the ticket and supported him to win elections for senate and governor respectively.