Security Forces Acting On Kaduna Governor Sani’s Orders Abduct PDP House Of Reps Candidate, 25 Others

The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused security forces loyal to Governor Uba Sani of abducting its candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, alongside 25 others, in what it described as a brazen abuse of power and an assault on democracy.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the party’s state chairman, Edward Percy Masha, the PDP alleged that Operation Fushin Kada — a joint security taskforce operating under the control of the Kaduna State Government — stormed City Den Hotel in Malali, Kaduna, broke into a room, and attempted to arrest the PDP Campaign Council Chairman, Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero.

When they failed to locate him, the statement said, the armed operatives abducted Dawaki and 25 other PDP members who were lodged at the hotel.

The PDP 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 immediately intervene, describing the incident as an egregious abuse of state power designed to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the bye-election.

The party also urged civil society organisations and pro-democracy groups to rise against what it termed a blatant attack on democracy and constitutional freedoms in Kaduna State.