The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Uba Sani’s administration of using security and anti-graft agencies to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Sir Edward Percy Masha, the PDP condemned what it described as an “orchestrated clampdown” on its candidate and campaign officials.
According to the party, its candidate for the by-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, August 25, 2025, and subsequently detained without bail. The PDP also alleged that its Campaign Director General, Alhaji Shehu Fatangi, has been in EFCC custody for 12 days despite fulfilling bail conditions.
The party recalled that earlier this month, the state government’s security outfit, Operation Fushin Kada, allegedly raided a hotel serving as its campaign office, arrested party officials, and seized campaign funds meant for logistics and welfare.
It stated that Fatangi was later transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and paraded as a PDP agent caught with money for vote-buying before being handed over to the EFCC.
“Recall that the Uba Sani-led government, in a desperate bid to emasculate the opposition and rig the August 16, 2025 bye-elections, ordered Operation Fushin Kada—a security outfit of the Kaduna State Government—to raid a hotel that our campaign committee was using as its campaign office, abduct our candidate and other party leaders, and carted away our campaign funds meant for agents' logistics and welfare,” it said.
Describing the actions as “executive rascality and a shameless attack on democracy,” the PDP said it would not sit idly by while its members are “intimidated and oppressed.”
The opposition party demanded the immediate release of its candidate and campaign DG, warning that failure to comply would force it to mobilize members across the state to occupy the EFCC facility in Kaduna.
“Meanwhile, we appeal to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, to intervene before the situation degenerates to an uncontrollable point,” the statement read.
“We wish to state emphatically that the PDP will not sit idly by while the government uses security or anti-graft agencies to intimidate and oppress its members. We are committed to defending democracy and the PDP in Kaduna State at all costs. We will continue to hold the government accountable while also defending the rights of our members and citizens at all times. This, I promise.”
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