Wike Seals PDP Headquarters 24 Hours After Pulling Out of All Reconciliatory Agreements

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja over an alleged failure to pay ground rent for 28 years.

The enforcement action came just 24 hours after FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike formally withdrew from all reconciliatory agreements within the party, accusing key stakeholders of betrayal and dishonesty.

The PDP headquarters, located at Plot 1970, Wuse Zone 5, was sealed on Monday afternoon, barely a day before the party’s scheduled National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

According to the FCTA, the decision was based on the party’s longstanding violation of land use conditions, specifically the non-payment of ground rent since January 1, 1998.

A letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration for the Honourable Minister of the FCT, had earlier notified the party of the revocation of its Right of Occupancy.

The notice, referencing File No. MISC 4968, stated, “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of powers conferred under the Land Use Act of 1978, revoked your rights, interests, and privileges over Plot No. 1970 due to your failure to pay the annual ground rents due for 28 years.”

The letter noted that despite several public notices and media campaigns in 2023, urging allottees to settle outstanding land charges, the PDP had failed to comply.

The FCTA cited Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act as the legal basis for the revocation and announced its immediate takeover of the property.

The revocation action was part of a crackdown by the FCTA on land rent defaulters in the capital.

This sweeping enforcement is part of a larger campaign that began after the FCTA’s March 18, 2025 announcement revoking 4,794 land titles across prime districts of Abuja due to prolonged non-compliance.

According to government data, as of March, 8,375 property owners owed a combined N6.97bn in rent, with some defaults dating back as far as 43 years.

Affected properties are concentrated in high-value zones such as Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, Central Area, Garki I and II, and Wuse I and II — key commercial and political hubs in the city.

The sealing of the PDP headquarters comes against the backdrop of a deepening crisis within the party, fueled by Wike’s fallout with top party members.

In a statement on Sunday, May 25, Wike accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and others of “treachery and dishonesty” in violating peace agreements reached in recent reconciliation efforts.

Wike, a founding member and major power broker in the PDP, revealed that multiple meetings aimed at resolving the party’s internal conflicts had been subverted by stakeholders.

He pointed fingers particularly at Makinde and Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, accusing them of orchestrating illegal changes to party leadership, including backing Ude Okoye for National Secretary in defiance of consensus decisions.

“In that meeting, I made it clear that I had no personal problems with HE. Bala Mohammed, except that he hides under the facade of Chairman of PDP Governors Forum to serially renege on agreements,” Wike stated.

He further alleged that a recent letter for Anambra State governorship candidacy — jointly signed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the acting National Chairman —was sabotaged by Makinde and Mbah through a “rebuttal letter” meant to discredit party authority.

According to Wike, these infractions culminated in the disruption of the PDP’s North-Central zonal congress in Jos, which INEC reportedly boycotted due to “irregular signatures.”

Recounting his decades-long loyalty to the PDP, Wike lamented, “What is more painful is that I contributed substantially to most of these governors winning their elections, yet I have not made any personal demands on any of them and I would never do so.”

He however declared his withdrawal from all reconciliatory efforts, he said, “I had thought that we could keep the trust amongst us…but I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached. I have decided to fight on until justice is attained.”

Wike Seals PDP Headquarters 24 Hours After Pulling Out of All Reconciliatory Agreements is first published on The Whistler Newspaper