Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has denied allegations that he has a criminal record, challenging anyone with evidence of criminal wrongdoing against him to make it public.
Archibong made the statement in Calabar on Wednesday while responding to what he described as a recent campaign against his reputation ahead of the 2027 Cross River State governorship election.
The controversy comes as political activity intensifies in the state ahead of the 2027 election, with candidates and political parties increasingly focusing on their records, policies and public image.
According to Vanguard, Archibong said he was reacting to an advertorial that he alleged was linked to the Cross River State Government and intended to damage his reputation. The report said he challenged anyone with evidence of criminal wrongdoing against him to present it publicly.
“I dare anyone with criminal records against me to make same public or forever remain silent,” Archibong said.
“I am an honest, clean, and hardworking citizen of Cross River State in particular and Nigeria at large. I have no criminal records on any matter, anywhere in Nigeria,” he added.
Archibong rejects criminal record allegation
The PDP candidate’s response followed the circulation of material that he said was intended to portray him negatively ahead of the election.
The Sun reported that Archibong was responding to a video circulating online which allegedly claimed that he had a criminal record. According to the newspaper, Archibong described the video as AI-generated and rejected the allegations against him.
The claim that the material was AI-generated is an allegation made by Archibong and has not been independently established by Weng Global from the available reports.
The issue is significant because allegations concerning criminal records can have serious consequences for political candidates, particularly during an election campaign. Such claims can influence public perceptions, but they require evidence and careful verification before they can properly be treated as established facts.
At the time of reporting, the available reports reviewed by Weng Global did not establish that Archibong has a criminal record.
Candidate accuses government of smear campaign
Archibong alleged that the material was part of an attempt to undermine his political standing across Cross River State.
He accused individuals he associated with the state government of attempting to damage his reputation and described the development as part of what he regarded as personality-driven politics.
According to Vanguard, Archibong said his campaign would remain focused on issues and development rather than personal attacks.
The PDP candidate also criticised the administration of Governor Bassey Otu, alleging shortcomings in infrastructure and human development.
Those criticisms are political claims made by Archibong and should be distinguished from independently established assessments of the Cross River State Government’s performance.
The Cross River State Government or representatives of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) would be expected to respond to specific allegations where necessary.
APC rejects Archibong’s allegations
The political dispute has extended beyond the criminal-record allegation.
Vanguard reported that the APC’s Cross River State Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Inyang, rejected Archibong’s allegation that the ruling political establishment was connected to a planned campaign involving cult groups and electoral violence. Inyang described the allegation as baseless.
The APC spokesperson also defended the administration’s record and criticised the PDP’s position ahead of the 2027 election.
The competing claims underline the increasingly political nature of the controversy. Archibong has accused his opponents of attempting to damage his reputation, while the APC has rejected his accusations.
Neither side’s broader political claims should be treated as independently established facts without supporting evidence.
Allegations of planned electoral violence
Archibong also made a separate allegation concerning the possibility of violence during the 2027 electoral process.
According to reports by Vanguard and CrossRiverWatch, he alleged that cult groups could be deployed to cause violence before, during and after the election.
Such an allegation is serious and requires particular caution.
Archibong did not, in the reports reviewed, provide publicly verifiable evidence establishing that such a plan exists. The APC subsequently rejected the allegation.
For voters and other stakeholders, the distinction between an allegation and a confirmed security threat is important. Security agencies would be responsible for investigating credible intelligence concerning possible electoral violence and taking appropriate preventive measures.
Archibong calls for issue-based campaign
Beyond the dispute over the alleged criminal record, Archibong has repeatedly presented his campaign as one focused on development and governance.
Recent reporting shows that the PDP candidate has called for political campaigns to focus on issues rather than personal attacks.
The Tribune reported on September 17 that Archibong urged political opponents to avoid blackmail and personal attacks and instead discuss development challenges, candidates’ records and their plans for improving residents’ lives.
The position is consistent with his earlier public statements.
In August, Archibong accepted a challenge to debate Governor Bassey Otu, saying he was prepared to participate in a public debate provided the governor attended personally. Punch and Guardian both reported the development.
The debate issue has provided another avenue for the competing political camps to present their positions ahead of the election.
A campaign increasingly focused on records and credibility
Archibong’s latest response illustrates the importance of personal credibility in the emerging 2027 Cross River political contest.
For candidates, allegations concerning criminal conduct, public service records, financial dealings or other matters of personal integrity can become major campaign issues. However, allegations alone do not establish wrongdoing.
The appropriate standard for reporting such claims is evidence.
Where a criminal-record allegation is made, relevant documentation could include court records, official law-enforcement records or other authoritative evidence. Without such evidence, a claim remains an allegation and should be reported as such.
In Archibong’s case, the available reports establish that he has publicly denied having a criminal record. They do not, on their own, establish the truth or falsity of every underlying claim circulating online.
Archibong’s political background
Archibong is the PDP’s candidate for the 2027 Cross River State governorship election and is also the founder of Arthur Jarvis University in Cross River State.
Premium Times reported in August that Archibong had pledged to serve only one term if elected governor, describing the commitment as a covenant with Cross River people. The report also identified Alphonsus Eba, a former APC chairman in Cross River, as his running mate.
His campaign has also criticised the administration of Governor Bassey Otu over issues including development, local government administration and what Archibong described as inadequate attention to communities outside Calabar.
The governor and the APC have continued to defend their record and challenge the PDP’s criticisms.
Why the allegation matters
The dispute matters because political campaigns can be heavily influenced by claims about candidates’ character and integrity.
A criminal-record allegation, if supported by credible evidence, could become a significant public-interest issue. If unsupported, however, repeating it as fact could unfairly damage a candidate’s reputation.
This makes verification particularly important as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
The controversy also highlights the growing role of digital media and manipulated or AI-generated material in political communication. The Sun reported Archibong’s claim that the video circulating against him was AI-generated.
As such material becomes easier to create and distribute, voters and news organisations face a greater need to establish the origin and authenticity of political content before accepting it as genuine.
What happens next
The immediate political issue is likely to remain part of the wider campaign debate in Cross River State.
Archibong has challenged anyone with evidence of a criminal record against him to make it public, while the APC has rejected his allegations concerning the ruling establishment.
The available reports do not show that any competent authority has established that Archibong has a criminal record.
Further developments could depend on whether those making the allegation produce documentary or other verifiable evidence, and whether the relevant authorities respond to the competing claims.
As the 2027 election approaches, the contest is expected to increasingly centre on candidates’ records, policy proposals, governance plans and claims about the performance of the incumbent administration.
For readers and voters, distinguishing verified information from campaign allegations will remain essential.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Vanguard — reporting on Archibong’s denial of criminal-record allegations and the response from the Cross River APC.
- The Sun — report on the circulating video and Archibong’s claim that it was AI-generated.
- Tribune Online — report on Archibong’s call for issue-based campaigning.
- Premium Times — background on Archibong’s 2027 candidacy and one-term pledge.
- Punch — report on Archibong’s acceptance of a proposed public debate with Governor Bassey Otu.
