2023: How Arthur Jarvis Archibong emerged through consensus to be PDP C’River South guber aspirant

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Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong has emerged the People’s Democratic Party, consensus governorship aspirant for Cross River South Senatorial District in view of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

This followed a seven hour intense deliberations chaired by former governor of the state and Leader of the Southern Senatorial District and One of the Leaders of the PDP in CRS, Mr Donald Duke at the auspices of the Southern Senatorial District Leaders, Traditional Ruler’s Council, Eminent Clergies and Stakeholders.

According to credible sources, Duke was mandated by traditional rulers, leaders, elders, stakeholders, as well as religious leaders from the state’s southern senatorial district to ensure the eventual emergence of a unanimous and credible aspirant from the south.

The source disclosed that ‘the first meeting by the group was held on 17th March 2022.

‘After 7 hours of engagement, the forum decided to cast votes to select an aspirant of their choice and Arthur Jarvis Archibong emerged with 12 votes, Amb Nkoyo Toyo 9, Hon Daniel Asuquo 4. Other Aspirants had 1 vote each.

After several unsuccessful one on one and group attempts by aspirants, elders and stakeholders to select a concensus aspirant the choice of Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong came about through a simple vote by 32 of the 34 stakeholders present.

This paper gathered that 37 were invited (2 were unavoidably absent), 35 attended (Senator Gershom Bassey left before the end of the meeting), 34 stayed to the end, 2 abstained from voting in the straw poll, 32 voted in the straw poll.

Present at the meeting were, Elder Omon, one of the oldest frontline politicians, Fr. Malachy, Mba Ukwenu SAN, Gershom Henshaw, Sen. Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Chief Gabriel Umoren, Chief Ise, Barbara James, Paramount Ruler of Efut -HRM Prof. Itam Hogan, Chief Asuquo Cowan, Mr Donald Duke, Chairman Traditional rulers council HRM Etim Okon Edet, Leader PDP Biase Mr John Offiong, All aspirants from the South.

This paper learnt that stakeholders were now waiting for the decision of the People’s Democratic Party in the state since they have already agreed on the Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong as consesus aspirant.

For the avoidance of doubt and the circumvention of the deliberate attempts to confuse the good people of Cross River State by mischief makers and their sponsored mischievous publications of rejoinders, the following stakeholders from the Southern Senatorial District participated in the final concensus deliberations and these include: Members of the CRS Council of Chiefs, Obong of Calabar Executive Forum, Efik Eburutu Consultative Assembly, Cross River Southern Senatorial Assembly and the Greater Calabar Forum.