By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) correspondents association, otherwise called Press Corps has strongly condemned the Monday’s assault on Mr. Ndubuisi Orji, a correspondent of The SUN Newspaper, by one Emmanuel Okoronkwo, a PDP staff attached to the office of the ousted National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
The incident, according to a statement by the Chairman, PDP Press Corps, Mr Samuel Ogidan, occurred at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Monday.
“This attack is a grave violation of press freedom and a direct assault on the rights of journalists”, the statement said.
The statement stressed that as essential members of a functional democracy, journalists owe the society an obligation to carry out their duties without fear of violence or any form of intimidation.
According to the statement, “This incident is not only a breach of Mr. Orji’s fundamental human rights but also undermines the core principles of free speech and media independence, a virtue which the PDP lays claim to.
“Eye witness accounts indicate that Okoronko attacked Mr. Orji after first, physically preventing him from gaining access to the National Secretariat.
“As Orji made for his vehicle packed outside the vicinity of the secretariat, Okoronkwo pounced on him with a series of slaps heralding other forms of physical assault until private security guards attached to the secretariat rescued him.
“His mobile telephone was damaged during the attack.
“In a fit of rage, Anyanwu’s aide threatened to “deal with” Mr. Orji boasting that nothing would happen because he was acting on the instructions of his principal who gave specific instructions that journalists should be barred from entering the building by any means possible including the use of physical force.
“This suggests that the assault may have been sanctioned by the former National Secretary, raising serious concerns about the party’s position on press freedom.
“We are to say the least alarmed when we reached out to Senator Anyanwu who confirmed that he gave instructions restricting movement into the Secretariat “because the party is on break”.
“This, to say the least, confirms our fears of the clear and present danger to our democratically guaranteed rights to keep Nigerians well informed about happenings around them.
“The right to information and the freedom to report are fundamental to ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance in any democracy.
“This is even more so that the party has been embroiled in a leadership tussle with a court order confirming Anyanwu’s removal from office.
“The PDP Press Corps is deeply alarmed by the use of physical force against any human being not just a journalist.
“The media plays a crucial role in holding leaders accountable and fostering public debate.
“Any action that hinders these rights, particularly by individuals within a political party, poses a dangerous threat to democratic processes.
“While political differences are natural in any human organization, journalists should not become victims of abuse of power by office holders.
“As a first step, the assault on our member has been reported to the Wuse Division of the Nigeria Police Force.
“We also demand that the person or persons involved in this clear violation of Mr. Orji’s rights be brought to book to show evidence that violence has no place in the Nigeria we are striving to build.
“We implore the PDP to take a firm stance against such actions.
“The PDP Press Corps calls on the party leadership to address this serious incident, clarify the facts, and take drastic action against Okoronkwo to serve as deterrent to others”, the statement by Ogidan said.
