
11/09/2025
Press Statement
September 11, 2025
Kaduna PDP Condemns Arraignment and Remand of Chikun/Kajuru Rep Candidate, Campaign DG by the EFCC, Reaffirms Commitment to Secure Their Release
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna State Chapter, is deeply distressed by the arraignment of its candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, and her Campaign Director General (DG), Hon. Shehu Fatangi, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 10, 2025.
The party is particularly pained by the decision of the trial court to remand them in prison custody until September 15, 2025, despite the spirited efforts of our legal team to secure their bail.
This development once again underscores the ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC) desperation to weaponize security and anti-graft agencies to harass, intimidate, and suppress the opposition in Kaduna State under the watch of Governor Uba Sani.
Recall that on August 16, 2025, we raised the alarm over a clandestine operation carried out by officers of Operation Fushin Kada, a security outfit of the Kaduna State Government acting on the orders of Governor Uba Sani. Our candidate, her campaign DG, and 25 others were forcefully abducted, while funds meant for logistics and agent welfare were seized in a desperate attempt to shortchange the PDP at the polls.
Although our candidate and the 25 others were later released following widespread public outcry, our campaign DG and the seized campaign funds were handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS). Shockingly, the DG was paraded as a PDP agent allegedly involved in vote buying—even though he was arrested at a hotel facility serving as our party’s campaign secretariat outside the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.
Subsequently, Mr. Fatangi was transferred to the EFCC, where he was detained for several weeks. Mrs. Dawaki was also invited by the EFCC and detained for two days before being granted bail. Our legal team filed an application before the Kaduna State High Court to secure Mr. Fatangi’s release. However, before the application could be determined, the EFCC hurriedly arraigned both Mr. Fatangi and Mrs. Dawaki before the Federal High Court on charges of money laundering and alleged vote buying.
The PDP leadership in Kaduna State, led by Sir Edward Percy Masha, was in court to monitor proceedings and show solidarity before our candidate and campaign DG were remanded at the Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres, respectively. We are making every effort to ensure their release on bail on Monday, September 15, 2025.
The PDP extends its deepest sympathy to the families of Mrs. Dawaki and Mr. Fatangi during this trying period. We assure them, and indeed all party faithful, of our unwavering resolve to secure their release at the earliest possible time. We trust in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and remain confident that justice will not only grant them bail but also vindicate them of all spurious charges.
Signed,
Hon. Maria Dogo
Publicity Secretary, PDP, Kaduna State