The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the sealing of its national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), describing the move as a “brazen abuse of power” and a direct attack on Nigeria’s democracy.
Reacting to the development on Monday evening, Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Iliya Damagum, addressed journalists after an emergency caucus meeting held at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. He declared that the party would not back down and is prepared to resist what it considers a politically motivated action.
“They should come and arrest all of us,” Damagum said. “We won’t take this lightly. This is a calculated attempt to intimidate the opposition and destabilize democratic institutions. We will hold them accountable.”
Earlier in the day, the FCTA had shut down the PDP headquarters, citing 28 years of unpaid ground rent as justification. However, the PDP dismissed the explanation, insisting the move was orchestrated to weaken the opposition at a critical time.
“This is nothing short of political persecution. It’s an irresponsible and desperate act by a government bent on suppressing dissent. We condemn it in the strongest terms,” Damagum said.
Following the closure, the PDP relocated its operations to the Bauchi Governors’ Lodge, where the emergency caucus meeting was convened. During the meeting, a special committee was constituted to investigate the incident and present a report.
“We’ve adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. The committee will report back, and we’ll continue our deliberations,” Damagum announced.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the party leadership and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who has been at the center of internal party disputes. Wike recently vowed to “fight for justice” within the PDP, further fueling speculation about political motives behind the secretariat’s closure.
The PDP’s reaction marks a significant escalation in its standoff with the federal authorities, signaling a readiness for what it describes as a battle to defend democracy and party integrity.
