The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm, accusing security forces loyal to Governor Uba Sani of abducting its candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 party members. The party described the incident as a brazen abuse of power and a direct attack on democracy.
According to a statement signed by the state chairman, Edward Percy Masha, the incident occurred at City Den Hotel in Malali, Kaduna. Members of Operation Fushin Kada, a joint security taskforce under the Kaduna State Government, allegedly stormed the hotel, broke into a room, and tried to arrest the PDP Campaign Council Chairman, Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero. When they couldn’t find him, the statement said, they whisked away Dawaki and 25 other PDP members who were lodged there.
The PDP called for urgent intervention from President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS Director General, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff. It described the operation as an attempt to intimidate opposition voices ahead of the bye-election scheduled by INEC to fill the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
“The PDP strongly condemns this act of harassment and intimidation. We demand the immediate release of our candidate and members. This is nothing but an abuse of state power,” the statement read in part. The party also urged civil society organisations and pro-democracy groups to resist what it called a clear assault on constitutional freedoms in Kaduna State.
The PDP maintained that it would not be silenced or cowed, stressing that the ruling APC’s actions are proof of desperation. “This is the last kick of a dying horse. No amount of intimidation will save the APC from rejection by the people,” the party declared.
