PDP apologises, explains assault on journalist at national secretariat

PDP, National publicity secretary, Collation centre

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disassociated itself from the assault on The Sun Newspaper correspondent, Ndubuisi Orji, which reportedly occurred within the premises of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made this known at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, January 7, 2025,

Ologunagba said the perpetrator acted independently and not on the PDP’s directive.

A staff member of PDP attached to the office of the National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, who was recently removed by the court, had on Monday assaulted Orji.

The staff member also forcefully prevented other journalists from gaining access to the premises of the party’s national headquarters.

Ologunagba said the party’s leadership had received a disturbing report about the conduct of the party’s official.

Ologunagba, who said the party was committed to the rule of law and the democratic tenets of freedom of the press, transparency and openness, condemned the action.

The PDP spokesman, while expressing regret over the incident, stated that the party completely dissociates itself from such act of violence and attack on journalists.

He said: “For clarity, the PDP national secretariat is closed for secretarial activities to enable our staff to participate in the yuletide festivities with their families.

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“It does not preclude anybody, particularly the press, from having access to the secretariat to conduct their legitimate business.”

Ologunagba said the party’s staff member who carried out the attack on the journalist was not in the security department of the party and, therefore, had no business whatsoever regarding the regulation of movements in and around the complex.

He added: “He acted on his own, in violation of democratic and all-inclusive principles for which the PDP is known and outside the code of conduct guiding activities of staff at the PDP national secretariat.

“PDP is reputed for its uncompromising stand in support and defence of the constitutional freedom of the press.

“The party cannot, by any means or under any guise whatsoever, engage in or condone any act that tends to abridge such legitimate freedom of the media or any person for that matter.”

Ologunagba assured journalists of their safety at the PDP secretariat and continued cordial relationship with the media.

The Star