Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claims there is a plot by some political bigwigs in the state to detain about 80 key members of the party as a ploy to stop them from participating in the forthcoming governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 18.
The claim is coming a few days after three chieftains of PDP were arrested by security operatives for allegedly inciting voters.
Former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi raised the alarm on Thursday in Kaduna.
Makarfi told journalists that the PDP is in possession of the list of those penciled down for arrest before the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, rescheduled for March 18, 2023.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a list of our field officers, drawn up by the government to be arrested and detained until after the elections, this has grievous implications”.
He said those targeted for arrest were drawn from Kudan, Sanga, Igabi, Lere, Kachia, Jaba and Kaduna North local government areas of the State which are believed to be PDP strongholds.
To this end, Makarfi warned the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government in the state to desist from arbitrary arrest of members of the opposition party in the prelude to the conduct of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on March 18.
A former commissioner of information in the state, Saidu Adamu and two PDP officials at Kabala Costain ward, were arrested and detained by security operatives, after allegedly being accused of making comments on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC government, it was said.
Makarfi said that “Hon. Adamu is still in detention and we don’t know his alleged offenses”, adding that he (Adamu) has also not been charged to court, it is a very sad development” he stressed.
