By Frank Ulom
Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Archibong was affirmed as the candidate on Sunday in Calabar, after the party unanimously elected him via a direct primary across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Announcing the results at the Calabar Sports Club, venue of the collation centre, Dr Clinton Chika, Chairman of the 2026 Gubernatorial Primaries Electoral Committee in Cross River State, said the election was a direct primary and Archibong was the sole candidate.
According to Dr Chika, “From the records we have, we have a total of 10,133 accredited voters as card-carrying members of our great party. The total vote cast out of this is 10,130 for our sole candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong.
“Therefore, having scored the highest votes as earlier mentioned, 10,130, and in accordance with the constitution of our party and the 2026 electoral guidelines of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, I have the singular honour as the Chairman of the 2026 Gubernatorial Election Primaries here in Cross River State, and the power confided in me by the National Working Committee and the constitution of our great party, to declare Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, hereby elected as the candidate of PDP to fly the party ticket in 2027.”
Responding shortly after being declared as the candidate of the PDP for the 2027 governorship election in Cross River, Sir Archibong assured the people that the party will reclaim Diamond Hill.
He said he’s going to do a single four-year term to maintain the zoning formula in the state.
“We have just four years. It’ll be a curse, it won’t be proper for us to stay a day after four years,” Archibong said, adding, “Any visionary leader will ensure that even in one year, structures are put in place.”
He assured that his leadership will revolve around the people of the state and not a political party. “This movement that we’re going to see is not going to be about party, but about the people,” he declared.
Earlier, the state party chairman, Venatius Ikem, Esq., said, “Last time we didn’t get it, but this time, I think God has destined it that we get it right. We brought in a candidate from the south, we’re going to conquer.”
He urged every member of the party to campaign irrespective of whether being named in the campaign group or not.
On his part, the BoT Chairman of the party and former Deputy Governor of the state, Barr. Efiok Cobham, said, “As a football fan, big names don’t win matches but good teams do.”
About the candidate, Cobham said, “We wouldn’t have had a better candidate. A man who can manage his personal business well can manage a public one.”
The BoT chairman further disclosed that the primaries were peaceful and without rancour.
The process was witnessed by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders.
Converseer reports that the primary was nearly marred by the rain but party faithfuls persevered to make sure they elected their candidate of choice.
Present at the primary were John Ifere, PDP candidate for Central Senatorial District; Prof. Zana Akpagu, PDP candidate for Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency; Florence Inyang, PDP candidate for Southern Senatorial District; James Ibor, Esq., PDP candidate for Yakurr 1 State Constituency, among others.
Archibong will be challenging the incumbent Governor, Bassey Otu, who has also clinched the APC ticket, among others come 2027.
Sir Archibong is the proprietor of Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, the first private university in Cross River State.
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