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PDP By-Election Candidate, 25 Party Members Abducted in Kaduna Amid Security Operation

Kaduna By-Election: PDP Reps Candidate and 25 Supporters Abducted by Suspected Security Agents

Political Crisis Erupts as Key Opposition Figure Disappears

In a shocking development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, was abducted along with 25 party members in Kaduna State. The incident occurred just as voters were preparing to cast their ballots in today’s crucial parliamentary election.

Security Forces Accused of Political Kidnapping

The Kaduna State PDP leadership has pointed fingers at Governor Uba Sani’s administration, alleging that security personnel under the state’s Operation Fushin Kada joint security network carried out what they describe as a “brazen act of political intimidation.” According to party officials, the security team initially targeted the PDP Campaign Council Chairman, Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero, before settling for the parliamentary candidate and two dozen others when their primary target couldn’t be located.

“This is nothing short of state-sponsored abduction,” declared Edward Percy Masha, the state PDP Chairman, in an emotionally charged statement. “The desperation of the ruling party has reached alarming proportions when they resort to kidnapping opposition candidates on election eve.”

Election Day Turmoil

The Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, meant to fill a vacant House of Representatives seat, has now been plunged into controversy. Political analysts suggest the abduction could significantly impact voter turnout and the election’s credibility, with many opposition supporters potentially staying home due to safety concerns.

Security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity offered conflicting accounts, with some suggesting the operation might have been a legitimate security sweep, while others acknowledged the troubling political dimensions of the incident.

National Outcry and Calls for Intervention

The PDP has launched an urgent appeal to Nigeria’s highest security authorities, including:

Inspector General of Police
Director General of the Department of State Services
Chief of Army Staff
Chief of Defence Staff
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

“We cannot allow our democracy to be hijacked by political thugs in uniform,” the PDP statement continued, framing the incident as part of a broader pattern of election-related intimidation in Kaduna State.

Broader Implications for Nigerian Democracy

This incident raises serious questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, coming just months after controversial national elections. Civil society organizations are already mobilizing, with several prominent groups scheduling emergency meetings to discuss what they call “an alarming erosion of democratic norms.”

Political science professor Ibrahim Musa of Ahmadu Bello University warns: “When security agencies become perceived as tools of political oppression rather than protectors of the democratic process, it creates a dangerous precedent that could destabilize not just Kaduna State but the entire federation.”

PDP Vows to Continue Despite Intimidation

The opposition party has struck a defiant tone, insisting the election must proceed and vowing to protect its supporters. “This cowardly act only confirms the APC knows it’s facing defeat,” the statement asserted, using football terminology to suggest the ruling party is making “a desperate last-minute tackle to stop an inevitable goal.”

As dawn breaks on election day, key questions remain unanswered: Where exactly is Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki being held? What were the precise circumstances of her abduction? And how will this dramatic development influence both voter behavior and the eventual election results?

With tensions running high, international observers are closely monitoring the situation, concerned that Nigeria’s fragile democratic gains might be undermined by such high-profile incidents of political violence.

Full credit to the original publisher: The Syndicate – Source link