Kaduna 2023 governorship election: Makarfi raises the alarm over plans to detain 80 opposition members

Ahead of the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in Kaduna state, former governor Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has raised the alarm over alleged plot to arrest and detain 80 members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from participating in the elections.

The alarm by former national caretaker chairman of the PDP was coming on the heels of arrest few days ago of three top PDP members in the state by security operatives over alleged inciting statements.

Makarfi further alleged that PDP is in possession of the list of its members pencilled down for arrest before the governorship and House of Assembly elections, rescheduled for March 18, 2023.

Makarfi said, “Our attention has been drawn to list of our field officers, drawn up by the government to be arrested and detained until after the elections. This has grievous implications.

“Those pencilled down 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.

Makarfi, however, warned the ruling All Progressive Congress’ (APC) government in the state against arbitrary arrest of members of the opposition party as a prelude to the elections.

Recall that a former Commissioner of Information in the state, Saidu Adamu, and two PDP officials, at the Kabala Costain ward were arrested and detained by security operatives for allegedly making comments on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC government.

Senator Makarfi, while reacting to the arrest of Adamu, who is the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council in Kaduna state and the two other members of the party, said that “Hon. Adamu is still in detention and we don’t know the alleged offenses. He (Adamu) has also not been charged to court, it is a very sad development”.

(Blueprint Newspaper)