The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has denied having any criminal record, accusing the state government of sponsoring an alleged campaign to portray him as a criminal ahead of the 2027 election.

His reaction followed the circulation of an AI-generated video on social media portraying him as a criminal, prompting the PDP candidate to publicly deny the allegation and challenge anyone with evidence of a criminal record against him to make it public.

Archibong made the denial during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar, describing the alleged campaign as “deliberately mischievous” and “artificially concocted.”

He said: “I am an honest, clean and hardworking citizen of Cross River State in particular and Nigeria at large. I have no criminal records on any matter, anywhere in Nigeria.”

The PDP candidate alleged that the publication and social media campaign were attempts by the state government to undermine his growing acceptance across the three senatorial districts.

Archibong accused the administration of Governor Bassey Otu of maladministration, alleging that it had failed to deliver sufficient infrastructure and human development to the people of the state.

He also alleged that the government was planning to use cult groups to cause violence before, during and after the 2027 elections, saying he was not intimidated by the alleged plan.

“We are aware that this government is planning unprecedented violence through cultism before, during and after elections, but we are not afraid because God is our shield and buckler,” he alleged.

The candidate did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation, while accusing the administration and its supporters of introducing personality attacks into the political contest.

According to him, his campaign had remained focused on issues rather than personal attacks, insisting that the alleged advertorial represented “the first salvo” in what he described as damaging personality politics.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has dismissed Archibong’s allegation of a plan to use cultists to cause mayhem before and during the 2027 elections.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Emmanuel Inyang, said the allegation was coming from a party that was not prepared to face the electorate.

Inyang said the people of Cross River remained with the APC because of what he described as the party’s good governance in the past three years.

He said the PDP should prepare to face the electorate rather than make allegations of a planned deployment of cultists.

“We can only advise them to get ready to face the ultimate defeat that lay ahead of them,” he said.

The exchange comes as political activities intensify in Cross River ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with the PDP and APC trading accusations over governance and the emerging political contest