The Kaduna State government has firmly dismissed allegations that it abducted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 other persons.
On Saturday, the state chapter of the PDP alleged that security personnel loyal to Governor Uba Sani were behind the abduction, describing the incident as a gross misuse of authority and a direct assault on the country’s democratic process. However, the Kaduna government, responding on Sunday, denied any involvement by the governor.
In a statement signed by the state PDP chairman, Edward Percy Masha, the party accused Operation Fushin Kada — a joint security taskforce reportedly operating under the state government — of raiding City Den Hotel in Malali, Kaduna. According to the party, the operatives broke into one of the hotel rooms in a bid to arrest the PDP Campaign Council Chairman, Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero.
The statement further claimed that when the operatives failed to locate Ahmed-Kero, they proceeded to abduct Dawaki and 25 other PDP members who were lodging at the hotel. The opposition party called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Defence Staff to urgently intervene. The PDP described the incident as a dangerous abuse of power aimed at intimidating opposition voices ahead of the by-election.
The party also urged civil society organisations, rights activists, and pro-democracy groups to take a stand against what it termed a calculated attack on democratic principles and constitutional rights in Kaduna State.
Saturday’s by-elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill vacant seats across the country. The exercise took place in 16 federal and state constituencies as well as senatorial districts across 12 states of the federation.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna State chapter, is compelled to alert Nigerians to the unlawful actions of security forces acting on the instructions of Governor Uba Sani,” the party’s statement read.
“In a show of desperation, operatives of Operation Fushin Kada — a joint security network under the control of the Kaduna State Government — stormed the City Den Hotel in Malali, broke into a room in an attempt to arrest the PDP Campaign Council Chairman, Hussein Ahmed-Kero, and when they could not find him, they abducted our candidate, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 others.
“The PDP strongly condemns this reckless act of intimidation and harassment by the ruling party and demands the immediate and unconditional release of its candidate and every other member held against their will.”
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel:
👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J