PDP criticizes Abia Speaker over expulsion of journalist

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, for the incident where a journalist was expelled from a press briefing held at the Assembly complex in Umuahia.

During a press briefing, Kingsley Chibuike, a journalist from Enyimba FM, was forcibly removed by the speaker due to his station’s ongoing criticism of the speaker’s decision not to swear in the elected member for Aba North constituency.

This decision was in defiance of the Court of Appeal’s directive on November 27, 2023. In a statement issued by Elder Amah Abraham, the Acting State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the party expressed its concern over the Speaker’s consistent hostile behavior towards democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary, as well as journalists who play a crucial role as the watchdogs of democracy.

The statement further highlighted that the actions of Speaker Emeruwa were reminiscent of the Governor Alex Otti administration, which openly expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and often cited his quotes to justify their actions and decisions.

“For now, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa is copying from the playbook of Alex Otti and this is quite unacceptable.

“Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa, in an unheard-of act in the annals of Abia’s democracy, sent out a journalist, Mr. Kingsley Chibuike of Enyimba TV and Radio Ltd., from a press briefing in the House of Assembly complex without any explanation.

“Information available to the Abia PDP revealed that Mr. Chibuike was asked to leave the venue of the press briefing by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker and the secretary of the House Committee on Information, Mr. Henry Madubuike, on the order of the Speaker.

“The Abia PDP is truly concerned that the Speaker, who had earlier restrained journalists from asking any question relating to his refusal to inaugurate Hon. Aaron Uzodike of the PDP, member representing Aba North State constituency, seven months after the Court of Appeal restored his mandate, could go so low as to exhibit such a callous, insensitive, and dictatorial tendency of sending out a journalist from a press briefing.

“Abia PDP intelligence revealed that the actions of the Speaker are not unconnected with concerns he earlier voiced in some quarters that Enyimba TV and Radio were giving him and the state government unfavourable coverage, especially on the station’s insistence that the Speaker should provide the court injunction restraining him from swearing in Hon. Aaron Uzodike, as he claimed, and also because the media station had scored the 8th Assembly under Emmanuel Emeruwa low for passing only five bills into law in an entire year.

“We are even more concerned that Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa is gradually moving in concert with Mr. Alex Otti, by descending into dictatorship instead of standing up to defend the independence of the legislature as enunciated by the framers of the principle of separation of powers.

“The last time we checked, Emmanuel Emeruwa had not lived up to his responsibility of checking the excesses of the state Governor, Alex Otti, who rides roughshod over the legislature, but he tries to muscle the press into submission.

The PDP cautioned the Speaker, reminding him that he has taken an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of the press.

“In case he has forgotten, the press is the conscience of society as well as one of the strong pillars of our democracy.”

The party insisted that Emeruwa should issue an apology to the journalist, Enyimba FM, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) for his misconduct.

They also emphasized that the people of Abia State will not tolerate any attempts by the speaker or any government officials to undermine the fundamental principles of democracy, which include the rule of law, legislative independence, and freedom of speech.

“We call on Abians to rise in defence of our democracy, and they must never forget the saying that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. It is very instructive and demands action at this moment.”