The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has promised to grant local governments greater financial autonomy if elected in the 2027 governorship election.
Key Highlights:
- Local government: Promised greater financial autonomy for councils.
- Inclusion: Vowed equal opportunities for all Cross Riverians.
- Economy: Prioritised sustainable wealth creation and jobs.
- Leadership: Promised to be present and accessible across the state.
- APC criticism: Accused Governor Otu’s administration of neglecting communities.
Archibong said the policy would enable councils to take greater responsibility for development at the grassroots and ensure that government projects and services reach rural communities.
Speaking to journalists in Calabar on the state of the state and his plans for the 2027 election, the PDP candidate said his administration would “unshackle” local governments as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots development.
“To ensure development gets to the grassroots, we will unshackle our local governments,” he said.
Archibong also pledged an inclusive administration in which political affiliation, ethnicity or senatorial zone would not determine access to government opportunities and development projects.
“There will be no discrimination and no form of nepotism whatsoever. Every zone, all local governments and ethnicities shall be part of the developmental vision of the state,” he said.
He added that his administration would treat Cross Riverians equally regardless of their political affiliations and establish a strong ethical framework that prioritises competence in public service.
According to him, sustainable wealth creation would be at the centre of his administration’s economic agenda.
Archibong, who described himself as a devoted Christian, said he intended to use the four-year tenure he is seeking to create sustainable economic opportunities and improve the welfare of residents across the state.
He also promised to remain physically present in the state and maintain regular contact with residents if elected.
Archibong criticised the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, accusing it of being disconnected from the people and failing to adequately respond to their needs.
He described the administration as weak in empathy, commitment and responsiveness to the concerns of Cross River residents.
The PDP candidate also criticised Governor Bassey Otu over what he described as prolonged periods of absence from the state.
According to Archibong, available records, in his assessment, indicate that the governor spends significant periods outside Cross River, including in Abuja and abroad.
He argued that a state governor should remain sufficiently present to understand developments across the state and respond promptly to emergencies and the needs of citizens.
Read also:
- Ebonyi PDP factions clash over Court’s nullification of Ibadan Convention
- Our current challenges won’t affect the 2027 general elections- Ebonyi PDP
- Ebonyi PDP Leaders hails Caretaker Committee, Pledge Support, Cooperation
Archibong also alleged that the governor’s visits outside Calabar had been limited and said this had contributed to what he described as inadequate attention to communities outside the state capital.
“A State Governor must be physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for the job of chief servant of the state,” he said.
In contrast, Archibong promised that he would not operate as an absentee governor if elected.
He said his intention was to serve for only four years, describing the pledge as a personal covenant with Cross Riverians and God.
“I would not be an absentee Governor. I will be constantly available to the people and only travel outside of the state very rarely and only to attend to obviously critical affairs that usher verifiable development to the state,” he said.
The PDP candidate also rejected what he described as a Calabar-centred approach to governance.
He promised to regularly travel across the state’s different zones to identify development needs and supervise the implementation of projects.
“I will not be Calabar Limited. I have the broad mindedness, vision, agility, love as well as the physical and mental capacity to constantly traverse the different zones of our dear state in the search for and implementation of real development for our people,” he said.
Archibong further promised to take governance directly to the wards and clans by meeting residents, listening to their concerns and seeking practical solutions to local problems.
He said he would also personally inspect government projects to ensure that contractors complied with approved specifications and completed projects within agreed timelines.
The candidate’s proposed local government policy is expected to form part of his broader campaign message of decentralised governance, grassroots development and sustainable wealth creation ahead of the 2027 election.
He maintained that Cross River’s development should not be concentrated in the state capital, arguing that communities across the state’s local government areas should have an equal opportunity to benefit from government programmes and infrastructure.
