A political crisis has erupted in Kaduna State as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused security forces loyal to Governor Uba Sani of abducting their House of Representatives candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, alongside 25 other party members.
The Kaduna State chapter of the PDP issued a statement condemning the actions of “Operation Fushin Kada,” a joint security task force operating under the Kaduna State Government, which they allege stormed the City Den Hotel in Malali, breaking into a room attempting to arrest the PDP Campaign Council Chairman, Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero. Upon failing to find him, the operatives allegedly abducted Dawaki and the other party members.
PDP Kaduna State Chairman Edward Percy Masha described the incident as a “brazen act of harassment, intimidation, and insanity” and called for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained. The party called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff to intervene urgently, framing the action as an egregious abuse of power designed to intimidate opposition ahead of the bye-election.
The PDP further urged civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups to stand against this “blatant attack” on democracy and constitutional freedoms in Kaduna State.
In response, the Kaduna State Government denied any involvement in the alleged abductions. The Commissioner for Information, Ahmad Maiyaki, clarified that security agencies such as the DSS and the police operate under the federal government and are not controlled by the state government. He referred to the PDP’s allegations as politically motivated and asserted that lawful arrests by security agencies should not be construed as abductions.
The tension reflects the increasingly fraught atmosphere ahead of the bye-election, with both ruling and opposition parties accusing each other of attempts to manipulate the electoral process through intimidation, vote-buying, and political suppression.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to oversee the by-elections, aimed at filling vacant seats in various federal and state constituencies across Nigeria, including Kaduna. Security agencies have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections while urging calm and peaceful participation in the voting process.
As Kaduna remains on edge, national observers and stakeholders are watching closely to ensure the protection of democratic rights and electoral integrity during this critical period.
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