The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given reasons why he formally revoked the land occupancy rights of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat in Abuja. In a letter dated March 13, 2025, addressed to PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum, the Director of Land Administration at the FCT Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, cited the party’s failure to pay ground rent for 19 consecutive years—from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025—as the reason for the action.

 

The revocation notice, titled “Notice of Revocation of Right of Occupancy With File No. MISC 81346 in respect of Plot No.243 within Central Area District, Abuja,” alleges that despite multiple publications by the FCT administration since 2023 urging all allottees to settle outstanding ground rent bills, the PDP national secretariat has remained delinquent. The letter further noted that the party’s non-compliance violates section 28, subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.

 

According to the notice, Plot No. 243 in Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja, has reverted to the control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which will now take immediate possession of the property.

 

Wike, the sole PDP chieftain serving in President Bola Tinubu’s APC-dominated cabinet, has reportedly been at odds with his party’s leadership over the past two years.