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 an 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 ₦26 million 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.
Below is the full text of Senator Usman’s petition to the ICC:
PETITION TO THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC), THE HAGUE
RE: REQUEST FOR THE ISSUANCE OF AN ARREST WARRANT AGAINST GOVERNOR UBA SANI OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA, FOR CRIMES AGAINST DEMOCRACY, UNLAWFUL PERSECUTION, AND ABUSE OF STATE MACHINERY DURING THE AUGUST 16, 2025 BY-ELECTIONS
1. Petitioner
This petition is presented by Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna State Chapter, acting on behalf of the PDP Candidate in the August 16, 2025 by-elections, who was unlawfully arrested and is currently being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the influence and orders of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
2. Jurisdiction of the Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals responsible for serious violations of international law, including persecution on political grounds, unlawful detention, and systematic attacks against democratic participation, which form part of crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
The actions of Governor Uba Sani, using the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and now the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to intimidate, arrest, and incapacitate opposition candidates, constitute an abuse of state power amounting to politically motivated persecution and suppression of democratic rights.
3. Statement of Facts
a. On the 16th of August, 2025, by-elections were conducted across Kaduna State, Nigeria. The PDP fully participated, deploying over 6,000 officials and over 5,000 agents across the State’s 169 wards, with election logistics duly funded (See Annexure H).
b. In the early hours of 16th August, 2025, at about 03:30 a.m., heavily armed state operatives, acting under the direction and influence of Governor Uba Sani, stormed the hotel accommodation of PDP officials in Kaduna (See Annexure B – photographic/video evidence).
c. The PDP’s duly nominated Candidate was unlawfully arrested without any justifiable cause. Over ₦26,000,000.00 (Twenty-Six Million Naira), earmarked strictly for election logistics, was confiscated (See Annexure C – sworn affidavits and financial records).
d. Over 25 senior PDP stakeholders were also arrested and harassed, including the State Party Secretary, Zonal Chairman, Women Leaders, a House of Assembly member, and other officials — all with the singular aim of intimidating the opposition and manipulating the outcome of the elections (See Annexure D – list of detained stakeholders and affidavits).
e. These actions were carried out despite the existence of a Peace Accord signed by political parties in Kaduna State (See Annexure A), which Governor Uba Sani violated by orchestrating unlawful arrests and intimidation.
f. Currently, the PDP Candidate remains in custody, being unlawfully held by the EFCC under political instructions of Governor Uba Sani (See Annexure F – EFCC detention notice/confirmation).
g. Independent media reports and election monitors documented these incidents of persecution and intimidation, confirming that the arrests and harassment were politically motivated (See Annexures E & G).
h. The Governor of Kaduna State bears direct command responsibility for these acts, as the Nigerian Police Force, DSS, and EFCC operatives acted under his political directives to unlawfully detain and persecute opposition figures (See Annexure J – any communications/recordings linking Governor Uba Sani to the arrests).
4. Legal Grounds
• The unlawful arrest, detention, and persecution of opposition candidates and officials amounts to political persecution contrary to Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute.
• The systematic abuse of state apparatus to suppress democratic participation amounts to an attack against a civilian population in violation of international human rights and electoral freedoms.
• Governor Uba Sani, as the sitting Chief Executive of Kaduna State, is personally criminally liable for these acts, both as an instigator and as one exercising command and superior responsibility.
5. Reliefs Sought
The Petitioner hereby prays the International Criminal Court to:
1. Open an investigation into the conduct of Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State in relation to the August 16, 2025 by-elections.
2. Establish criminal liability for persecution, unlawful arrest, and abuse of state power.
3. Issue an arrest warrant against Governor Uba Sani to prevent further abuses, intimidation, and suppression of political opposition in Nigeria.
4. Take any other measures necessary to guarantee the protection of opposition figures, candidates, and the sanctity of democratic participation in Nigeria.
6. Verification and Oath
I, Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, do hereby verify on oath that the facts contained in this petition and the annexures attached hereto are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, and that I depose to this petition in good faith and in pursuit of justice.
_____________________________
Senator Lawal Adamu Usman
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
For and on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna State
