FCT Minister Orders Sealing Of PDP National Secretariat In Abuja.
In a dramatic development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the sealing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja, along with 4,793 other properties, effective from Monday, 26 May 2025. The decision follows the revocation of land titles due to the non-payment of ground rents, a move that has sparked significant controversy.
According to a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to the FCT Minister, alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, the sealing is part of a broader enforcement action targeting properties in default. The PDP secretariat, located at Plot No. 243 within the Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, was among 4,794 properties whose titles were revoked in March 2025 for failing to settle outstanding ground rents, some dating back as far as 20 years. The total outstanding amount across 8,375 property owners is reported to be N6,967,980,119.
The revocation notice, issued on 13 March 2025, cited the PDP’s failure to pay annual ground rents from 1 January 2006 to 1 January 2025, despite repeated notices published in national newspapers and broadcast media since 2023. The notice, signed by Nwankwoeze, invoked the Minister’s powers under the Land Use Act of 1978, specifically Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b), which address breaches of land tenure agreements. The FCT Administration has stated that ownership of the revoked properties, including the PDP secretariat, has reverted to the FCTA, and immediate possession will be taken until all outstanding payments are cleared.
Wike’s decision has drawn sharp criticism from the PDP, which described the move as an act of “political suppression.” The party has yet to issue a formal response to the latest sealing order, though sources indicate it may challenge the action legally. The revocation and planned sealing also affect other prominent organisations, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), among others, highlighting the scale of Wike’s enforcement drive.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Olayinka emphasised that the payment of ground rent is a legal obligation stipulated in the terms of the Right of Occupancy, due annually on 1 January without demand. He noted that the FCTA had provided multiple opportunities for defaulters to settle their debts, including a 21-day grace period following the March revocation, but compliance remained low. “The FCTA will exercise its lawful rights to take possession of these properties,” Olayinka stated, underscoring that the action was not targeted at any single entity but applied uniformly to all defaulters.
Wike, who assumed office as FCT Minister on 21 August 2023, has prioritised land regulation reforms as part critical examination of his administration. His tenure has been marked by a focus on infrastructure development, security, and sanitation, though his aggressive approach to land title enforcement has stirred debate. Critics argue that the sealing of high-profile properties like the PDP secretariat could be perceived as politically motivated, given Wike’s history of tensions with the PDP leadership, particularly after his fallout with presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 elections.
Supporters of the Minister, however, maintain that the move is a necessary step to restore fiscal discipline and ensure compliance with land use regulations in the FCT. They point to Wike’s track record as the former Governor of Rivers State, where he earned a reputation for decisive action, as evidence of his commitment to transforming Abuja into a world-class capital city.
As the Monday deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the FCTA’s next steps and the PDP’s response to the sealing of its national headquarters. The action is likely to intensify debates over land management and political dynamics in Nigeria’s capital.
