Kaduna govt denies abducting PDP candidate, 25 others amid by-election tensions

DDM News

(DDM) – The Kaduna State Government has denied claims that it abducted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 party members.

The denial came after accusations from the Kaduna PDP chapter on Saturday, which alleged that security operatives loyal to Governor Uba Sani carried out the operation.

DDM gathered that the PDP, through its State Chairman Edward Percy Masha, alleged that the joint security taskforce known as Operation Fushin Kada stormed City Den Hotel in Malali, Kaduna.

The party claimed that the operatives broke into a hotel room in a failed attempt to arrest Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero, the PDP Campaign Council Chairman for the constituency.

When they reportedly could not locate Ahmed-Kero, PDP alleged that the armed operatives abducted Dawaki and 25 other members of the party who were lodged at the hotel.

The party condemned the incident as a deliberate plot to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the by-election.

According to PDP, the actions represented what it described as a brazen abuse of power and a direct assault on democracy.

The party’s statement urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately to stop what it called growing political persecution in Kaduna State.

It also appealed to 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 order the immediate release of those allegedly abducted.

Civil society groups and pro-democracy advocates were also called upon to resist what PDP described as a blatant attack on constitutional freedoms.

However, the Kaduna State Government swiftly denied the accusations on Sunday.

Officials insisted that Governor Uba Sani had no involvement in the alleged arrests and rejected the claims as political propaganda.

The state government emphasized that the by-election was being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not by any political actors.

By-elections were held nationwide on Saturday across 12 states, covering 16 federal and state constituencies and senatorial districts.

In Kaduna, the contest for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat drew particular attention due to its history of tense political rivalries.

Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, the PDP candidate, was regarded as a strong challenger, and her campaign had recently gained traction in the constituency.

Political analysts told DDM that the controversy could deepen mistrust between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP in the state.

They noted that accusations of harassment and intimidation have historically marked elections in Kaduna, often leading to violence and post-election disputes.

The PDP vowed to continue pressing for the release of Dawaki and others it claimed were unlawfully detained, warning that the credibility of the by-election was at stake.

The Kaduna State Government, meanwhile, urged citizens to disregard what it described as “falsehoods spread by desperate politicians” and encouraged voters to participate peacefully in the democratic process.

The unfolding situation has intensified scrutiny on security forces operating in Kaduna, with many observers questioning whether state-controlled operations were being misused for partisan objectives.

As at press time, neither INEC nor federal security agencies had issued an official statement clarifying the status of Dawaki and the 25 individuals.

The tension surrounding the by-election is expected to remain a major talking point in Kaduna politics in the days ahead.