The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Mr Edward Masha, has vowed to resist alleged illegal arrest and intimidation of critics of the state government.
Masha made the declaration on Wednesday at the swearing-in ceremony of the party’s Secretary, who had been serving in an acting capacity.
He said the party would not remain silent in the face of alleged attempts by government officials and local government chairmen to suppress dissenting voices and intimidate citizens critical of the administration in the state.
“We will resist any attempt to illegally arrest or intimidate people simply because they criticise the government,” Masha said.
He maintained that elected and appointed public officials must operate within the confines of the law and respect the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly the right to freedom of expression.
Masha also criticised what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability in the administration of Gov. Uba Sani.
He particularly questioned the distribution of fertiliser across the state, describing the exercise as a “sham” allegedly designed to secure political advantage for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The distribution of fertiliser should be transparent and based on the needs of the people, not political considerations,” he said.
According to him, government programmes and public resources should be deployed for the benefit of all residents rather than used as instruments of political mobilisation.
Masha alleged that the manner in which the fertiliser was being distributed raised concerns about the administration’s commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability.
He warned that the opposition party would continue to scrutinise the activities of the government and challenge actions it considered unlawful or detrimental to the interests of Kaduna residents.
The PDP chairman urged residents to remain vigilant and demand accountability from those entrusted with public resources.
He said democracy thrived on constructive criticism, openness and respect for the rule of law, stressing that citizens should be free to express their views without intimidation.
