RismadarVoice Reporters
July 3, 2026
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Arthur Jarvis, has accused the administration of Governor Bassey Otu of targeting him and members of the opposition through what he described as politically motivated actions.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar on Friday, Jarvis alleged that the state government was planning a fresh clampdown on him and his privately owned university after allegedly targeting his running mate, Alphonsus Ogar Eba.
According to Jarvis, Eba’s residence in the Water Board area of Calabar has been marked for demolition, raising fears that he could also become a target of government action.
He further claimed that authorities had initiated a tax audit of his university as part of an effort to intimidate him because of his political affiliation.
Jarvis insisted that the institution had fulfilled all its tax obligations, describing the ongoing audit as unnecessary and politically motivated.
The PDP candidate also expressed disappointment that his university had received no government support despite contributing to the state’s educational development. He noted that unlike in some other states where private universities benefit from grants and infrastructure projects, his institution had neither received financial assistance nor improvements to its access roads.
He added that repeated requests by the university’s management for a courtesy visit to Governor Otu since the administration assumed office had not received any response.
Jarvis further alleged that the planned demolition of his running mate’s property was part of a broader strategy to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections and cautioned the government against actions capable of heightening political tension in the state.
However, the Cross River State Government has dismissed the allegations, insisting that the demolition exercise is unrelated to politics.
State officials explained that the exercise forms part of the rehabilitation of critical water infrastructure under a World Bank-supported project and affects 39 structures erected along major underground water pipelines.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba, and the Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, maintained that the operation is being carried out in the public interest.
They noted that the affected structures include properties belonging to several individuals and government establishments, stressing that the exercise is not directed at Jarvis or any member of the opposition.
