The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has described as a damning indictment of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration a recent report ranking Imo as the most dangerous and hostile environment for journalism practice in Nigeria.
The party was reacting to the findings of the State of Press Freedom in Nigeria report, published by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), which assessed press freedom across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the CJID’s Openness Index, Imo State ranked 37th with a press freedom score of just 40.7 percent — the lowest in the country.
The report, presented in Abuja, highlighted patterns of repression, intimidation, and obstruction of journalistic work allegedly perpetrated by state actors.
In a press statement made available to journalists on Saturday, PDP’s spokesperson in Imo State, Lancelot Obiaku, said the report is another blot on the already battered image of the state under Uzodinma’s watch.
Obiaku described the current government as “high-handed and unaccountable,” accusing it of curtailing media freedom to hide its failures and alleged corruption.
“It presents a sordid trend under the present administration, wherein a once upward-bound state that bore some hope now finds itself tethering ashamedly at the base of all good governance indicators, including accountability, transparency, responsiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency,” the statement read.
He lamented that the state, already grappling with insecurity and poverty, continues to slide under what he termed a “clueless and mindlessly insensitive” administration.
Obiaku further asserted that by obstructing press freedom and keeping government activities from public scrutiny, the Uzodinma-led government has confirmed the perception of being steeped in secrecy and mismanagement.
He added, “For Imo to record the lowest rating in press freedom nationwide is an embarrassment, a clear sign that the government has no regard for democratic values or open governance.”
The PDP called on the Imo State government to urgently address the concerns raised in the report by creating a media-friendly environment and providing the necessary legal frameworks to protect journalists.
The party emphasised its belief in the freedom of the press and urged Uzodinma to embrace transparency and accountability by allowing journalistic activities to flourish without interference or fear.
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