Benedict Ayade was born 2 March 1968 to the family of Mr. &Mrs. Peter Akinsheye Ayade, natives of Kakum village in Obudu, Nigeria.  He went to St. Stephens Primary School for his primary education, Obudu, and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Obudu, Nigeria, for his secondary education. Ayade earned his B.Sc. (Honours) from the University of Ibadan in Ibadan.  Benedict Ayade, during his political career held many positions including PDP chieftain in Cross River State, member of the Strategy Committee in the government of Senator Liyel Imoke, whose election as governor was nullified in 2008. In the January 2011 PDP primary elections, He contested for the Cross River North but was later restrained from presenting himself as a candidate by a court injunction on the grounds of violating the electoral Act due to a N20 million donation to the Liyel Imoke Campaign petition. In 2015, he contested in the gubernatorial election in the State under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged winner