Mathew Amaechi
Officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed the National Headquarters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, escalating tensions between the opposition party and the FCTA under Minister Nyesom Wike.
At exactly 2:06 p.m., a team of FCTA staff arrived at Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s national secretariat located in Wuse Zone 5, and locked its entrance gate, effectively shutting down operations at the party’s administrative hub.
This move comes just a day after the FCTA announced it would begin reclaiming properties affected by the recent revocation of 4,794 land titles. The revocations, according to the administration, were prompted by the failure of property owners to pay ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
While the PDP has not issued an official response, sources within the party described the action as politically motivated and warned it could deepen existing political rifts. However, the FCTA insists that the operation is part of a broader, non-discriminatory enforcement drive aimed at recovering public revenue.
“This has nothing to do with politics,” said a senior FCTA official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is about law and order. If you owe for decades, the government is well within its rights to act.”
Minister Wike, a former PDP governor of Rivers State who joined the current APC-led federal government, has made aggressive reforms and enforcement a hallmark of his tenure since assuming office last year. His decision to crack down on longstanding property debts, even when involving his former party, is being seen as a signal that no institution is above compliance.
The development has sparked immediate reaction across political circles, with analysts warning that it may be interpreted as an attack on democratic institutions if not carefully managed.
Security presence around the secretariat has been light, with no reports of resistance or confrontation at the time of filing this report. However, uncertainty looms over when the premises will be reopened or what legal avenues the PDP may pursue in response.
More details are expected as the situation develops.
