By Blessing Fali
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Cross River State, Arthur Archibong, has accepted Governor Bassey Otu’s challenge to an open debate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Archibong said he was ready to debate Otu at any time and venue chosen by the governor, but insisted that Otu must attend the debate personally.
The PDP candidate made the position known while speaking with journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, following a challenge issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Ekpenyong Cobham.
Archibong said the people of Cross River deserved to hear directly from those seeking to lead the state rather than through representatives or political proxies.
He, however, declined to engage Cobham in a verbal exchange, describing the commissioner as his brother and noting that Cobham was not a candidate in the election.
Cobham had earlier challenged Archibong to publicly debate the Otu administration’s policies, programmes and performance as the state prepares for the 2027 governorship election.
Archibong also defended Arthur Jarvis University, AJU, which he founded in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, against recent criticisms.
He described the allegations against the institution as politically motivated and maintained that the university was established to contribute to the development of Cross River State.
The PDP candidate urged the state government and political actors to pay greater attention to pressing issues affecting residents, including environmental sanitation, blocked drainage channels and emergency response, particularly around Watt Market.
The proposed debate is expected to provide an opportunity for voters to hear the candidates’ positions on governance, development and other issues ahead of the 2027 election.
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