By Abiola Olawale
Tensions have begun to escalate in Abuja as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, appears to have allegedly declined to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directive to unseal the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Abuja.
This comes as many PDP officials have begun to question why the party’s secretariat remains locked despite Tinubu’s order.
Recall that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of Wike sealed over 4,000 properties, including the PDP national secretariat, Access Bank branches, TotalEnergies fuel stations, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices in Wuse, Abuja, for allegedly failing to pay ground rent, some for as long as 34 years.
Following the widespread criticism that came after the action, Tinubu granted a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their outstanding ground rents.
However, one of the PDP officials who spoke with the press said that the FCTA has allegedly failed to comply with the President’s directive for undisclosed reasons.
The officials said the PDP national secretariat, located in Wuse Zone 5, was still under lock and key.
The official said: “I was here yesterday when the FCTA staff came around. They went to FIRS, Ibro Hotel, and NAPTIP and unsealed all of them. When they got to our office, they quickly drove away.
“I followed them to their office and met with the director of Lands but he said that they are still waiting for instructions from AGIS to unseal PDP.”
This also comes after the PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba condemned the lockout, accusing Wike of overstepping his authority.
Ologunagba said: “The Nigerian Constitution does not grant the FCT Minister the power to disrupt the operations of a political party,” Ologunagba stated during a press conference in Abuja. He emphasized that the PDP remains a vital force in Nigeria’s democracy and will not be silenced by such tactics
Recall also that Wike, a two-term governor of Rivers State, has been a polarizing figure since joining Tinubu’s APC-led administration as FCT Minister.
His actions, including the sealing of the PDP headquarters, have been interpreted as a power play amid his ongoing feud with some PDP leaders.
