The Cross River State Government has vowed to take legal action against Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, a factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over an alleged false press release. The government expressed concern over a statement released by Archibong, which claimed that Governor Bassey Otu had directed the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, HRH Etubom Nyong Edet Okon I, not to receive Archibong during his political consultation in Calabar South.
The development followed a series of attacks on PDP supporters during the party's consultative meetings in Calabar South. At least three persons were reportedly injured, and vehicles belonging to members of the party's consultative team were damaged. Archibong alleged that gunmen disrupted the consultation at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South before another attack occurred at the African Club along Calabar Road.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, addressed journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Calabar, accusing Archibong and his media team of publishing a false account of the traditional ruler's role in the episode. Cobham said the disputed publication alleged that Governor Otu had directed the paramount ruler not to receive Archibong during his political consultation in Calabar South.
However, Cobham dismissed the claim as false, insisting that the governor never issued such a directive to the traditional ruler. According to him, he personally met with the paramount ruler, who denied receiving any instruction from Otu not to receive Archibong. The commissioner also claimed that the traditional ruler showed him a response from Archibong apologising over the publication and directing that it be taken down.
Cobham described the alleged publication as an attempt to malign the governor, saying the government would not allow such claims to go unchallenged. He emphasized that it was an absolute insult to malign the character, name, and personality of the governor for an issue that is a figment of the imagination.
The commissioner gave Archibong and his media team 48 hours to retract the publication and issue a public apology to the governor. He warned that failure to comply with the demand would compel the state government to consider legal action, insisting that the governor had no reason to prevent the traditional ruler from receiving any political aspirant.
The state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have denied involvement in the attacks on PDP supporters. The development has heightened tensions in the run-up to the governorship election in Cross River State, with the PDP and APC engaging in a heated battle for control of the state.
Key points
- The Cross River State Government has threatened legal action against PDP factional governorship candidate Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong.
- The government expressed concern over a statement released by Archibong, which claimed that Governor Bassey Otu had directed the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South not to receive Archibong.
- The commissioner gave Archibong 48 hours to retract the publication and issue a public apology to the governor.
