The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by Minister Nyesom Wike, has yet to unseal the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, despite a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu calling for a temporary suspension of such enforcement actions.
Earlier this week, FCTA officials launched a city-wide sealing of properties over unpaid ground rent, sparking widespread criticism. Ground rent is an annual levy paid by landowners for the continued use of their land. In March 2025, Wike had revoked the titles of 4,794 properties over non-payment, marking the beginning of what has become a tense enforcement campaign.
In response to the backlash, President Tinubu ordered a temporary halt to the exercise and granted affected property owners a 14-day grace period to clear their outstanding payments. The directive was confirmed in a statement issued by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration in the FCT.
Despite this presidential order, the PDP headquarters located in Wuse Zone 5 remains sealed. A visit by Daily Trust around 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday revealed that the gate was still padlocked, with an FCTA seal affixed beside the lock.
Party staff were seen loitering around the building and sitting outside the premises, expressing frustration over the continued closure. One staff member, speaking anonymously, claimed the refusal to unseal the PDP office appears politically motivated.
“I was here yesterday when FCTA officials came. They unsealed FIRS, Ibro Hotel, and NAPTIP. But when they got to our office, they quickly drove off,” he said.
“I followed them to their office and met with the director of Lands, but he said they’re still waiting for instructions from AGIS to unseal PDP.”
So far, the PDP has not issued a formal statement on the lingering closure. However, following the sealing of the building on Monday, the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, strongly condemned the move, calling it “the height of irresponsibility” by the FCTA.
“If they want to arrest all of us, we are ready,” Damagum said.
“This is an attempt to undermine democracy. We won’t accept it.”
Tensions between Minister Wike and the opposition PDP have been steadily escalating in recent months, with this latest incident further deepening the political rift.
