In what seems to be a move to gag the press, security personnel attached to the Delta state House of a assembly on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, denied journalists access from covering the official state address of the state Governor , Sheriff Oborevwori.
The move was widely condemned and described as undemocratic and opaque.
Journalists from leading national and regional media outlets, including The Punch, The Guardian, Tribune, ThisDay, Champion, Emerald Online, The Story, Southernvoice, the State own print media, The Pointer, DBS BusinessDay, Leadership, New Telegraph, ThisDay, Nigerian Pilot and many others were denied entry into the Assembly complex despite arriving as early as 9:30am and presenting valid identification.
The police officer who said he is in charge identified as ASP Saviour David, the security officer in charge at the main gate, told the assembled press that they would not be allowed inside, without offering a clear explanation.
“The order came from above,” ASP David said. “If you like, call anybody, nobody will answer you.”
Shockingly, while frontline reporters were denied access, select individuals not affiliated with the press—and a handful of female journalists attached to Government House, were allowed entry, raising questions of bias and selective transparency.
Efforts to reach the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor and the CPS to the Speaker for clarification were unsuccessful, as both officials were unreachable at the time of filing this report.
This blatant exclusion of the press has sparked outrage among journalists and advocates for press freedom, who view it as a troubling attempt to suppress independent reporting and limit public access to state proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, officially invited journalists to cover the event, yet, security operatives heavily armed blocked journalists from entering the complex premises to carry out their dutiful assignment.