By Asuquo Cletus
A Businessman and politician, Arthur Jarvis, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Jarvis emerged unopposed during the party’s governorship primary election held in Calabar on Sunday amid cheers from party faithful and supporters across the state.
Speaking after accepting the party’s mandate, Jarvis described the victory as a collective responsibility to rescue the state from what he termed “poor leadership and misplaced priorities.”
He said, “I stand before you to accept the trust of the mandate that you have handed over to me today.
“Our situation as a state is very sad and the people are the victims of it. We must come together as a people to ensure that this does not continue.”
The PDP governorship candidate criticised the current administration in the state, alleging that only a few individuals were benefiting from governance while the majority of residents continued to suffer hardship.
According to him, politics in the state must shift from personal interests to people-centred leadership.
“These movements that we are going to see will not be about party, it will be about people. Nobody will discuss party, we are going to discuss people,” he said.
Jarvis also called on aggrieved members of the party and defectors to return to the PDP, assuring them of equal treatment and inclusion.
“We call on all those who left us to come back home. We shall receive them like royalties and ensure that we move forward together,” he added.
Earlier, the state chairman of the PDP, Venatius Ikem, expressed confidence in Jarvis’ ability to lead the party to victory in the next governorship election.
Ikem said the party had become re-energised in recent months and claimed that many members of the ruling All Progressives Congress were secretly supporting the PDP.
“For four years, the highest we have seen is potholes covered in Calabar and renovation of the library on the highway. Apart from that, I am yet to know what else has been done,” Ikem alleged.
He urged party members to remain united and committed to the PDP’s mission of reclaiming power in the state.
“Every party member moving forward is a member of the campaign committee. The state is waiting for us to make a difference,” he said.
