By Kelvin Obambon
The Cross River State Government has thrown down the gauntlet to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, challenging him to an open, public debate on policy, governance performance, and strategic vision for the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The challenge was made on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, by the State Commissioner for Information, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, during an interactive session with journalists at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Center in Calabar.
Addressing journalists during the impromptu media engagement, Cobham criticized the opposition’s recent political commentary, describing it as “rudimentary” and lacking intellectual depth. He urged the opposition candidate to step up and engage the administration on verifiable governance metrics rather than resorting to personal attacks and unprovoked political rhetoric.
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Reacting specifically to statements credited to Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong regarding Governor Bassey Otu’s official trips outside Cross River, the Commissioner stated that the opposition appears to misunderstand the dynamics of modern administration and fiscal engagement in Nigeria’s pseudo-federal structure.
“I would wish that we strive to the strata where this candidate would be able to engage the Governor on policies and programs. Let us have a debate,” Cobham declared. “Come with strong reasons. Educate themselves to the strata we are operating under. Prosperity needs looking into, and prosperity is not intellectual if we continue at this level of political engagement.”
He defended the Governor’s frequent out-of-state engagements, pointing out that strategic lobbying at the federal level is critical for the state’s economic advancement. He highlighted recent milestones achieved under Governor Otu’s leadership, including securing funding from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for the Bakassi Deep Seaport project and advancing efforts to officially accredit Cross River as an oil-producing state.
Addressing news reports surrounding the ongoing prosecution of a social media commentator identified as Mr Dennis Odama, the Information Commissioner clarified that the state government as an institution did not institute the legal proceedings.
Cobham explained that two government officials – the Special Adviser on General Duties and the Commissioner for Works – filed the petition in their personal capacities following alleged defamatory and insolent remarks made against the person of the Executive Governor.
“When government is engaged on whatever substratum, the representative office in charge handles that function. If the state government had instituted the petition, it would have originated from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government or the Attorney-General,” he clarified.
Cobham cautioned against politicizing what he characterized as a clear criminal matter involving alleged digital misconduct and social media infractions, noting that the matter remains subject to the due process of law before the courts.
The Commissioner also dismissed criticisms originating from former state chairman of APC and deputy governorship candidate of PDP, Barr. Alphonsus Eba, asserting that the administration remains focused on delivering its core mandates rather than engaging individuals with questionable public service track records.
Regarding allegations of external political domination or attempts to “recolonize” the political structure of the state, the Commissioner assured Cross Riverians that Governor Otu remains a grassroot-oriented leader who will not compromise the state’s sovereignty or resources.
He, however, announced a two-pronged media strategy aimed at strengthening transparency, stating that under the new initiative, the State Ministry of Information will host regular media tours allowing journalists to independently inspect and verify state-funded projects across the state.
