2027: Cross River PDP governorship candidate vows to do single term if elected

Arthur Jarvis Archibong, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor in Nigeria's Cross River State, has made a significant pledge: he will serve only one four-year term if elected in 2027. Archibong declared this commitment in Calabar while addressing journalists and PDP stakeholders, framing it as a "covenant with Cross River people and God." He stated that a single term would ensure a balance in the tenure for the Southern Senatorial District. Beyond this promise, Archibong vowed to be accessible, conduct regular state tours, and personally inspect projects, emphasizing a governance model driven by inclusion, accountability, and direct citizen engagement.

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I will serve only one term because it represents the balance of the tenure of the Southern Senatorial District.

Archibong also turned his attention to the current administration, led by Governor Bassey Otu. He revealed that he had deliberately refrained from public criticism for three years, allowing the government time to demonstrate its capabilities. However, with less than a year remaining, Archibong felt it was time to speak out, accusing the governor of frequent absences from the state. He argued that these absences hindered direct interaction with the populace and impacted effective decision-making and responsiveness to public concerns. The candidate also criticized the perceived concentration of governance activities in the capital, Calabar, suggesting the governor should make more frequent visits to communities across the state's three senatorial districts.

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Remaining silent with less than one year left in this administration would amount to betraying the people.

Further criticisms were leveled against the administration's oversight of projects, with Archibong claiming that the state had yet to see a defining signature project despite nearly four years in office. He highlighted the neglect of rural communities and advocated for increased financial autonomy for local government areas to better address poverty and improve services. Archibong also alleged an imbalance in appointments, contract awards, and access to government opportunities, suggesting that "proximity to power often determines access to opportunities that should be available fairly to all citizens." He concluded by calling for competence, fairness, and inclusion in governance, stressing the need for equitable representation and equal access to resources for Cross River's diverse ethnic communities. He also condemned alleged attempts to suppress opposition voices.

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Proximity to power often determines access to opportunities that should be available fairly to all citizens.