The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for revoking the Right of Occupancy (RofO) for its national secretariat, alleging that the move was aimed at weakening opposition parties in Nigeria.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, expressed concern over the development in a phone interview on Tuesday in Abuja, describing the action as a threat to democratic governance.
He criticized the decision by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, stating that it was an attempt to silence opposition voices and create an atmosphere of political suppression.
“The revocation of the PDP’s national secretariat land title is unjustifiable. This action is targeted at crippling opposition activities and undermining democracy,” Ologunagba said.
He revealed that the revocation affected both the current party headquarters at Wadata Plaza in Wuse Zone 5 and the unfinished 11-storey secretariat building in Abuja’s Central Business District.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) is currently deliberating on this matter and will soon provide a comprehensive response.
“However, it is deeply concerning that both our operational headquarters and the ongoing secretariat project have been affected. This move is clearly designed to stifle opposition,” he added.
Under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, the FCTA revoked the land allocation on the grounds that the PDP had failed to pay ground rent for two decades.
A revocation notice, dated March 13, 2025, was issued to the PDP National Chairman by the FCTA’s Department of Land Administration.
The letter, signed by Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated that the party’s rights and claims to Plot No. 243 in the Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja, had been withdrawn.
Citing Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, the notice explained that PDP had defaulted on payments from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite multiple public notices urging landowners to settle outstanding fees.
The PDP’s 11-storey secretariat project, initially valued at N16 billion, has remained incomplete since its construction commenced in 2008, despite various fundraising efforts.
Several past national chairmen, including Uche Secondus and Iyorchia Ayu, had promised to complete the project but failed to do so.
During a facility tour in January 2022, Ayu assured that the project would be finished; however, he was suspended from the party in 2023 before fulfilling that commitment.