By; USMAN NASIDI, Kaduna
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, has strongly condemned and rejected what it termed the blatant abuse of power used by the state All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, saying the harassment is because the APC-led government in the state is staring defeat in the coming elections.
While addressing newsmen during a press conference on Thursday at the Kaduna PDP secretariat, the state Chairman, Hon. Hassan Hyet said that as a matter of urgency in view of the act of deliberate harassment and intimidation that PDP members are experiencing in the state, they find it necessary to hold a press conference.
He added that, it is compulsory for them to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the undemocratic acts of harassment against PDP members in state, as the APC-led government would be held responsible if anything happens to their members currently in detention.
According to the state Chairman, the Assistant Campaign Director in charge of their broadcast department, Hon Saidu Adamu, has only been released on bail after being arrested by the DSS since March 7, 2023, while two other members, Talib Mohammed Lawal and El-Abbas Mohammed have been arrested and currently in detention.
He said, “we have it on good authority that directives have been given by the state Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i to security agencies in the state to arrest members of the PDP campaign management team. Already trumped up cases have been prepared for each of the members.
“We recall that on 30/01/2023, we had cause to write a petition to the Commissioner of Police when 14 of our members were randomly arrested in Kudan Local Government Area. We wrote another petition on 01/03/2023 asking the Police to be mindful of plans by the APC to incite the public through the use of some Islamic clerics.
“We ask for either the immediate release of those arrested, or charged to a competent court so that the needed legal process can start. Doing otherwise would amount to an infringement of their fundamental human rights and a clear misuse of state power,” Hyat said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Chairman requested the security agencies in the state to stay neutral in all the electoral processes, as that would help the state to stay peaceful before and after the March 18 Gubernatorial and state Assembly Elections.
“Information reaching us is that the APC Government in Kaduna State has drawn up lists of people to be picked in various local government areas in order to cripple the PDP. This is very unbecoming of an elected governor who is on oath to be fair to all.
“The desperation of the serving APC governor and its gubernatorial candidate is such that they are moving from one local government to another, threatening the remaining traditional/ward heads and civil servant with dismissal should they fail to deliver their polling units to APC,” he alleged.n
Meanwhile, Hon. Hyat called on EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies, security agencies alike to take the necessary action by arresting trailer loads of rice, noodles, spices, etc being sent to various local government areas in the state to influence the poor voters.
“This is pure vote buying which is against the law. APC government in Kaduna State has never donated items either during Sallah, Ramadan fasting, Christmas or Easter to the masses of Kaduna State, why now?
“We call on the good people of Kaduna State to remain resolute and focused. Do not sell your future and the future of our children and the unborn for a morsel that will not last more than a day. The time to chase out this satanic regime is now. PDP is the solution,” he said.
Hon. Hassan Hyat urged the state party members, well wishers and the public to remain calm and law abiding, hence, these are several acts of calculated harassment that the APC government has initiated against their members.
