Uzodinma responsible for Imo’s low press freedom rating, PDP alleges

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State chapter has attributed the state’s low press freedom rating to Governor Hope Uzodinma’s “high-handedness and abuse of power”.

According to the recently released Openness Index Report by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), Imo ranked 37th out of 36 states and the FCT, scoring a below-average 40.7 percent.

The report highlighted widespread repression, intimidation, and obstruction of journalistic work by state actors, making Imo the most dangerous and hostile environment for journalists in Nigeria.

PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, expressed disappointment over the report, describing it as another sad commentary on Governor Uzodinma’s cruel regime.

“For a stagnant state ravaged by insecurity and poverty, these records constantly remind Imo people of their pain in the hands of the rather clueless and mindlessly insensitive Uzodimma administration,” Obiaku said.

The party noted that obstructing press freedom only lays bare the government’s failure, corruption, and depravity.

PDP urged the state government to show good faith and reverse this trend by encouraging press freedom, providing the necessary environment, access, and legal framework for journalistic work to thrive.

This development is another setback for Imo State under Governor Uzodimma’s administration, which has been criticised for its handling of the judiciary and insecurity in the state.

Governor Uzodimma’s administration has faced criticism for its high-handedness, with incidents of judges being sanctioned for falsifying their ages and the National Judicial Council (NJC) overruling the governor’s appointment of the Imo State Chief Judge.

Additionally, there have been reports of abductions and harassment of critics, including a former commissioner who went missing after petitioning President Tinubu over the alleged atrocities.