Following the arrest and detention of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the August 16 Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, Princess Esther Asheu Velli Dawaki and the party’s Campaign Director General, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Patange, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Lawal Adamu Usman, on Tuesday, petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, requesting the issuance of arrest warrant against Governor Uba Sani for alleged crimes against opposition politicians in the state.
Specifically, Senator Usman is praying the ICC to issue the warrant of arrest for Governor Uba Sani over his alleged attack on democracy, unlawful persecution, and abuse of state power in his dealings with opposition parties and political parties in the state.
Senator Usman, in his petition dated August 26, 2025, already sent to the Office of the ICC Prosecutor in The Hague, said he was acting on behalf of the party’s candidate in the August 16 by-election, who he also said remains in unlawful custody under the directive of Governor Uba Sani.
According to the lawmaker’s petition, in the early hours of the August 16 by-election, heavily armed operatives stormed the hotel accommodation of PDP officials, where they arrested the party’s House of Representatives candidate and several other chieftains, during which they also confiscated over ₦26million meant for election logistics.
Senator Usman alleged that more than 25 PDP officials and chieftains, including the state secretary, zonal chairman, women leaders, and a House of Assembly member, were herded into detention in what he described as a “commando style” deliberate clampdown targeted at intimidating the opposition politicians and manipulating the by-election results.
The lawmaker’s petition claimed that the Kaduna Governor’s actions violated the Peace Accord signed by political parties in the state and amounted to politically motivated persecution.
Senator Usman further accused Governor Uba Sani of abusing and craftily usurping the functions and powers of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to “incapacitate the opposition and undermine free democratic participation” in Kaduna State.
The PDP Senator, who in his petition to the ICC quoted Article 7 of the Rome Statute, argued that the unlawful arrests and intimidation of the PDP House of Representatives candidate and other party top shots during the August 16 by-election fell within the jurisdiction of the ICC as crimes against humanity, particularly political persecution.
Senator Usman therefore urged the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation, establish liability, and issue an arrest warrant against Governor Sani to deter further abuse of state machinery in Kaduna State.
“The Governor of Kaduna State bears direct command responsibility for these acts, as security and anti-graft agencies acted under his political directive to unlawfully detain and persecute opposition figures,” the PDP lawmaker’s petition partly read.
The Kaduna Central Senator affirmed his petition under oath, stressing that the facts presented were true.
Affidavits, media reports, and alleged evidence linking the Kaduna Governor to the crackdown on the opposition candidate and other politicians were also attached to the petition by Senator Usman.
As of the time of filing this report, Governor Sani and his spokespersons had yet to respond to the PDP Senator’s petition.
