The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused security operatives acting under Governor Uba Sani’s directives of abducting its House of Representatives candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru bye-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 other party members.
In a damning statement issued at a press conference in Kaduna, State PDP Chairman Sir Edward Percy Masha said the operation, conducted by a government-backed joint task force known as Operation Fushin Kada, invaded the City Den Hotel in Malali, intending to arrest PDP Campaign Council Chairman Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero.
When Ahmed-Kero was not found, the operatives allegedly dragged Dawaki and others from their rooms instead.
Masha condemned the incident as a “brazen act of harassment, intimidation, and insanity by the APC,” and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
“We call upon President Bola Tinubu, the IGP, the DSS Director-General, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff to intervene,” Masha appealed.
“We urge civil society organizations and defenders of democracy to stand against this blatant attack on our constitutional freedoms.”
He went on to accuse the ruling party of resorting to state power out of electoral desperation:
“The APC’s actions signal that the party is heading towards defeat, hence its resort to this show of force, akin to the last kick of a dying horse. No amount of intimidation can save them from being rejected by the people.”
The PDP cautioned citizens to remain vigilant against attempts to disrupt or manipulate the voting process across all polling units.
The controversial by-election organized by INEC to fill the vacant Chikun/Kajuru seat in the House of Representatives, is now overshadowed by the allegations of state-sponsored abductions.
