The Cross River State Government has given the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis 48 hours to retract a publication against Governor Bassey Otu.
The government is demanding an unreserved apology over an allegation that the Governor stopped the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South from receiving the factional PDP candidate.
Addressing journalists in Calabar, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ekpenyong Cobham, said the publication was credited to Sir Arthur Jarvis, the governorship candidate of the PDP.
Cobham said the publication alleged that Governor Otu directed the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South not to receive the PDP candidate.
He described the claim as false and malicious, saying it was intended to damage the image of the Governor and his administration.
The Commissioner said Sir Jarvis later apologised to the Paramount Ruler and directed that the publication be taken down.
The government is demanding that the publication be retracted and an unreserved apology published in national newspapers within 48 hours.
The government says it will pursue legal action if the publication is not withdrawn, insisting that false claims against the Governor and his administration will not go unchallenged.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
