Constituents’ support for Dawaki, despite the loss, showed her personal appeal but exposed the party’s failings. Midat Joseph, a local, praised her humanitarian work with IDPs in Kajuru during banditry crises, urging voters to back her for her compassion and competence. Yet, this grassroots endorsement couldn’t overcome the PDP’s organizational lapses, as members like Suleiman Yaro questioned the wisdom of involving non-committed figures in key meetings, pointing fingers to Jasawa.
Kaduna State’s recent bye-elections, particularly in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, ended with a clear win for the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Felix Bagudu the victor on August 17, 2025. This outcome, where Bagudu polled a landslide victory, proves a significant shift in a seat long held by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), proving the ruling party’s strong grip on the current political terrain.
PDP’s handling of its candidate, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, came under fire for outright negligence, leaving her to fend for herself amid intense security clampdowns. In the lead-up to the August 16 polls, PDP leaders issued press releases condemning the abduction of Dawaki and 25 others by Operation Fushin Kada, a state security outfit, during a raid on City Den Hotel in Malali. Yet, despite these strong words, key party figures like Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (MR LA) from Kaduna Central, and Isa Ashiru, the 2023 governorship candidate, were accused by members of offering only token support via social media posts, while Sen Ahmed Makarfi, the party leader in the state was said to be abroad, rather than showing up on the ground to rally behind her.
Internal finger-pointing within the PDP escalated quickly after the loss, with members openly blaming each other for the defeat instead of uniting. For instance, Comrade Nasiru Tanko from Kajuru accused the party’s leadership and stakeholders of colluding with the APC in the Chikun/Kajuru race. Similarly, Aminu Jasawa lambasted top shots like Ashiru and MR LA for being active on Facebook while security forces hunted for campaign chairman Hon. Hussein Ahmed-Kero. Even more damning, some PDP faithful pointed fingers at Aminu Nasir Jasawa, a close ally of Kaduna South Rep Hussaini Abdulkarim, alleging he tipped off security about cash meant for agents, which led to arrests on vote-buying claims. Jasawa’s defensive posts on Facebook, later not found, only fueled the distrust.
Massive resignations have rocked the PDP in Kaduna State since the bye-election debacle, manifesting deep cracks in the party’s foundation. Hajiya Fatima Kadashi, a loyalist and close ally to Dawaki, dramatically quit the party, citing frustration over the leadership’s inaction. Her exit triggered a chain reaction, with waves of defections in key local governments like Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Igabi. Earlier this year, Igabi’s elected Rep, Hussaini Jalo, had already jumped ship to the APC. More recently, on August 17, Nazifi Abbas formally resigned, followed by Hon. Ibrahim Hassan (Dan Inda) and others, including the party’s financial state secretary Aliyu Bello who has since resigned following former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s resignation. These departures, often blamed on poor management and lack of direction, have left the PDP reeling as it struggles to hold onto its base ahead of 2027.
The ruling party’s success in Chikun/Kajuru and other constituencies like Zaria and Basawa resulted from their solid mobilization and mutual support among members. Unlike the PDP’s disjointed approach, APC governors, elected officials, and appointees threw their full weight behind candidates, coordinating logistics, security, and voter outreach. Governor Uba Sani’s administration ensured a tight and transparent grip on the process, while party bigwigs camped on the field to counter opposition moves. This unity paid off, as APC not only clinched the federal seat but also two state assembly positions, proving their strategy of collective backing trumps internal squabbles.
Security agencies’ role in the elections drew sharp criticism from the PDP, who accused them of bias in favor of the APC. On August 26, PDP Chairman Sir Edward Percy Masha condemned the “illegal detention” of Dawaki and Campaign DG Alhaji Shehu Fatangi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), linking it to the hotel raid where campaign funds were seized. Masha threatened mass protests to occupy the EFCC office if releases weren’t immediate. Public reactions varied, with some like Hon. Yusuf Umar Garkuwa urging the PDP to explain the arrests rather than just agitate, while former PDP state PRO Alberah Catoh called it a “rape on democracy” by APC “pro-democracy advocates.”
Constituents’ support for Dawaki, despite the loss, showed her personal appeal but exposed the party’s failings. Midat Joseph, a local, praised her humanitarian work with IDPs in Kajuru during banditry crises, urging voters to back her for her compassion and competence. Yet, this grassroots endorsement couldn’t overcome the PDP’s organizational lapses, as members like Suleiman Yaro questioned the wisdom of involving non-committed figures in key meetings, pointing fingers to Jasawa.
The recently concluded by-election has proven that Kaduna’s political landscape is shifting fast, while APC is consolidating power through disciplined teamwork, on the other hand, the PDP grapples with self-inflicted wounds. If the opposition doesn’t address its negligence and infighting, more resignations could follow and that will further weaken the already existing mountain of challenges in future polls. As it stands, the bye-election results are a wake-up call: unity wins elections, division loses them.
