The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna State Chapter, has accused security forces of harassment and intimidation, alleging that operatives acting under the directive of Governor Uba Sani attempted to abduct its campaign leaders ahead of Saturday’s Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election.
In a statement issued on Friday by the state chairman, Edward Percy Masha, the PDP claimed that Operation Fushin Kada, a joint security network under the Kaduna State Government, stormed the City Den Hotel in Malali, broke into a room in search of the party’s Campaign Council Chairman, Hussein Ahmed-Kero, and when they failed to find him, abducted the PDP candidate for the bye-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, along with 25 others.
The PDP described the action as “a brazen act of harassment, intimidation, and insanity by the APC,” demanding the immediate and unconditional release of its candidate and supporters.
“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 the APC from its rejection by the people,” the statement read.
Masha called on the Inspector General of Police, the DSS Director General, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff, and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt what he described as an “egregious abuse of power.” He also urged civil society organizations and pro-democracy groups to rise against what he termed “a blatant attack on democracy and the constitution in Kaduna State.”
However, the Kaduna State Government swiftly dismissed the allegations. Speaking to Hobnob News, the Commissioner for Information, Ahmad Maiyaki, said the opposition was spreading falsehoods to cover up its own electoral misconduct.
According to him, security operatives had uncovered a vote-buying plot involving the PDP. A security source told Hobnob News that a PDP agent, Shehu Fatange, was arrested with about ₦30 million allegedly set aside for influencing voters in the bye-election.
Fatange was reportedly picked up on Friday evening at a hotel in the Kaduna metropolis, where he was allegedly coordinating the distribution of cash to party agents.
The Kaduna State Police Command confirmed the arrest. Spokesman DSP Mansir Hassan said the suspect was in custody and under investigation but declined to provide further details. He assured that security agencies were working to guarantee a free, fair, and credible poll.
In recent days, both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties—including PDP, ADC, and SDP—have traded accusations of vote-buying, thuggery, and attempts to compromise electoral officials.
Security agencies have appealed to the public to remain calm and turn out peacefully to exercise their franchise in Saturday’s bye-election.
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