By our reporter
In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the FCT Administration (FCTA) has officially revoked the land title of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. This move comes just days after reconciliation efforts between Wike and the PDP stakeholders failed to yield any resolution.
According to official documents, the FCTA justified the revocation by citing 20 years of unpaid ground rent on the property located at Plot No. 243, within the Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja. The PDP reportedly owes a total of N7.6 million in ground rent, which has accumulated from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025. The FCTA stated that multiple public notices and reminders were issued over the years, yet the party failed to comply.
The land in question was allocated to the PDP for the construction of its permanent national headquarters. However, the party continues to operate from Wadata Plaza, located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja—a building that, contrary to common assumption, is not owned by the PDP but by a private individual, Mr. Samaila Ofi. As a result, the notice of revocation was served on Mr. Ofi and not directly on the party, further complicating the legal and political implications of the FCTA’s action.
The PDP has condemned the move in strong terms. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the revocation as a calculated attempt to stifle political opposition and weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions. He accused the FCTA of using bureaucratic processes as tools of political witch-hunting, and warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for governance in the country.
In response, the PDP’s National Working Committee convened an emergency meeting to deliberate on the implications of the revocation and to consider possible legal and political responses. The party views this as part of a broader campaign by Wike, a former PDP governor of Rivers State now serving under an administration led by the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), to undermine the PDP’s relevance on the national stage.
The revocation has intensified an already strained relationship between Wike and the PDP leadership, revealing the fragile state of internal cohesion within Nigeria’s main opposition party. Observers note that this development may have far-reaching consequences, not only for the PDP’s operations but also for the broader landscape of democratic engagement in the country.
As the PDP strategizes its next move, many are watching closely to see whether legal action will be pursued or if renewed attempts at political reconciliation might yet emerge. Either way, the revocation of its secretariat land marks a critical turning point in the party’s recent history.
