No Politics In Revocation Of PDP Secretariat Land, INEC, Central Bank Also Lost Land Titles, FCT Minister Wike Says

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that its land title was revoked as a ploy to suppress opposition.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday during a visit by officials of the Body of Benchers, led by Chairman, Adegboyega Awomolo, Wike expressed dismay over the PDP’s claim.

He stated that the revocation was purely due to non-payment of mandatory ground rent and not politically motivated

He noted that political, religious, and ethnic sentiments were often attached to executive decisions, leading to misinterpretations.

According to him, land titles of allottees who had failed to pay rent for over 10 years were revoked, including that of the PDP.

Wike pointed out that despite being in power for several years and generating between N13billion and N20billion from the sale of party forms, the PDP had not paid the N7.6million ground rent for its land in Central Area, Abuja.

He further disclosed that the Wadata Plaza, which serves as the PDP National Secretariat, was not registered under the party’s name but rather under a senator residing in Abuja.

He added that the registered owner had failed to pay the ground rent for 28 years, yet the PDP accused him of targeting its secretariat.

“Maybe they had a deal with the man and did not complete the deed of assignment and were shouting oh, they sent Wike to revoke the land as a ploy to kill opposition. What kind of mentality is that?” Wike questioned.

He stressed that the revocation was not exclusive to the PDP, as institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria had also lost land titles for the same reason.

He revealed that the CBN had pleaded for a reversal, but he insisted the bank must first settle its outstanding ground rent.

Wike also urged the Body of Benchers to ensure they fulfilled their financial obligations, warning that no defaulting allottee would be spared.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Wike had approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles on March 17, 2025, affecting individuals, corporate organisations, and government institutions due to non-payment of ground rent for over 10 years.