Benin, Edo – In a scathing public statement, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of fostering a culture of violence and intimidation against journalists, labeling it a "direct threat to democracy."

The party's outburst comes amid mounting outrage over the alleged manhandling of a government-owned media reporter at Government House, an incident that has drawn sharp condemnations from press freedom advocates and civil society groups.

The controversy erupted on Wednesday, December 3, during an empowerment program for 250 persons with physical disabilities at the Festival Hall in Benin City.

According to eyewitness accounts and reports from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kelly Okungbowa, a controversial aide to the governor popularly known as "Ebo Stone" confronted EBS cameraman Bright Osifo, accusing him of filming a minor scuffle at the venue's entrance.

When reporter Juliet Enabulele-Asein intervened to clarify that her colleague was not recording and worked for the state-owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), Okungbowa allegedly struck her on the shoulder in an attempted slap, escalating the confrontation.

Enabulele-Asein, who covers the Office of the First Lady for EBS, described the attack as unprovoked.

"I told him the cameraman was not recording and even pointed out that he was working for the state government-owned station, but he ignored me," she recounted in a statement to the NUJ.

Osifo was also shoved during the altercation, leaving both journalists shaken but unharmed.

Okungbowa, the former coordinator of the now-defunct Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) suspended by Governor Okpebholo in March amid complaints of overreach has a history of legal troubles. He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) earlier this year for alleged naira abuse after a viral video showed him spraying currency notes at a bar.

Despite his suspension, he remains a visible figure in the governor's circle, often described by critics as a "political enforcer."

The PDP's statement, signed by Publicity Secretary Dan Osa-Ogbegie, Esq., framed the assault not as an aberration but as part of a "rising wave of violence" under the Okpebholo administration.

"A government that encourages resort to assault and unruliness; a government that indulges touts and layabouts; a government that gives official cover to street urchins – is apparently not different from them," it declared, urging the governor to "rein in his political thugs."

The party highlighted two prior incidents to underscore what it called an "unmistakable pattern" of impunity.

In November, UK-based Edo critic Albert Obazee, a vocal supporter of former Governor Godwin Obaseki was slapped during a livestream at a Manchester meet-and-greet event organized by Obaseki.

The attacker, Ehimare Erewele (aka "Double Chief"), was later honored at a reception in Benin City by senior APC figures, including Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Osamwonyi Evbaguehita Atu and Niger Delta Development Commission representative Patrick Aisowieren. They pledged over ₦1 million in "rewards" for the assault, dubbing it a "digital slap" and celebrating it as a defense of the state government.

Obazee, who has faced prior threats including the alleged ransacking of his family home in Benin City, vowed to pursue legal action in the UK.

Even more explosively, the PDP pointed to Okungbowa's alleged role in a November 9 invasion of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City. Video footage and photographs captured "Ebo Stone" among a group of suspected hoodlums who stormed the facility during a preview event attended by foreign diplomats, including the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, the German Ambassador, and the Danish Ambassador.

The protesters, claiming affiliation with "Indigenous Benin Youths," vandalized property, insulted guests, and forced an evacuation under heavy security. The incident, which canceled the museum's opening and drew federal condemnation, stemmed from disputes over the site's allocation originally the historic Central Hospital and control of repatriated Benin Bronzes.

Governor Okpebholo later revoked MOWAA's land rights, citing "overriding public interest," but did not denounce the invasion.

"Journalists are not slaves of the state... Any administration that either directly attacks them or indirectly emboldens its political foot soldiers... is openly declaring war on the Nigerian Constitution," the PDP statement asserted, invoking Supreme Court rulings like Adebayo v. State (2022) and Nwankwo v. State (2023) to argue that no one is above the law.

The NUJ Edo Council echoed the PDP's fury, demanding Okungbowa's immediate arrest and prosecution under sections of the Criminal Code Act covering assault, unlawful violence, and breach of peace.

"The safety of journalists is non-negotiable," NUJ Chairman Festus Alenkhe and Secretary Andy Egbon wrote, warning of a "toxic environment" for media professionals.

The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights joined the chorus, condemning the assault and the broader "digital slap" culture glorified by politicians, while calling for enhanced protections and a public apology to Enabulele-Asein.