The Cross River State Government has given Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, a governorship candidate of one faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 48 hours to withdraw a press release and apologise to Governor Bassey Otu. It says it will consider legal action if he fails to do so.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, made the demand at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Calabar. He said the press release was false.
Cobham said the release claimed that Governor Otu had told the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South not to receive Archibong during his political consultation in the area. He said the governor never gave such an order.
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The commissioner said the governor had no reason to stop the traditional ruler from receiving any political aspirant. He said the government would not let such claims pass without a challenge.
“It is an absolute insult to malign the character, the name and the personality of His Excellency for an issue which is a figment of the imagination,” Cobham said.
What the commissioner says the ruler told him
Cobham said he met the paramount ruler in person. He said the ruler told him that Otu had given him no instruction to turn Archibong away.
The commissioner also claimed that the ruler showed him a response from Archibong. He said it apologised over the publication and directed that it be taken down.
Cobham described the release as an attempt to damage the governor’s name. He gave Archibong and his media team 48 hours to retract it and publish a public apology.
He warned that the state government would consider legal action if they refused.
Attack on PDP supporters during the consultation
The demand came after an attack on PDP supporters during the party’s consultative meetings in Calabar South. At least three people were reportedly injured. Vehicles belonging to members of the party’s consultative team were also damaged.
Archibong alleged that gunmen disrupted the consultation at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, HRH Etubom Nyong Edet Okon I. He said another attack allegedly happened later at the African Club along Calabar Road.
The PDP candidate later spoke to journalists about the incidents. The state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) both denied any part in the attacks.
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