By Ita Williams
The Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, has demanded the immediate retraction of a social media report alleging that Governor Bassey Otu directed government officials to prevent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from campaigning in the state.
Cobham, who spoke at a press briefing in Calabar on Monday, described the report as false and potentially capable of inflaming political tension in the state, particularly against the backdrop of recent disagreements involving supporters of rival political interests.
According to the Commissioner, the governor had neither ordered the opposition politician to be stopped from entering Cross River nor instructed any government official to interfere with the candidate’s political activities.
“The Governor neither issued any directive barring the PDP candidate from campaigning nor instructed any government official to obstruct the activities of opposition politicians,” Cobham said.
The commissioner explained further that he became aware of the publication on October 2 and immediately commenced an inquiry into its origin and the authenticity of the allegation.
He said the investigation took him to the government official named in the report.
Cobham said the official denied receiving any directive from the governor and showed him the publication on his mobile phone. He added that the official subsequently contacted the individual identified in the report concerning the allegation.
He said he later came across a response from the individual, which contained an apology and a request for the removal of the publication from th crberspace.
“The response included an apology and an instruction that the publication should be deleted,” he said.
The commissioner urged journalists to exercise greater caution in handling information obtained from social media, stressing that reports with political implications should be independently verified before publication.
He warned that the government would not tolerate the use of political disagreements to circulate allegations capable of damaging the reputation of the governor or the state.
“We are giving those responsible for the publication and their media team 48 hours to retract the allegation and apologise,” he said.
Cobham also addressed the violence associated with the political disagreement, saying it was largely rooted in internal disputes within the opposition party.
He denied claims linking APC members to the violence and urged the public to be wary of manipulated and AI-generated materials, assuring all political parties that lawful campaigns would be allowed throughout the state.
