The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) have made good their threat to seal the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), popularly known as Wadata Plaza, over accumulated unpaid statutory ground rent.
The enforcement action was carried out on Monday afternoon by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), with support from a multi-agency task force comprising the military, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and vehicle inspection officers.
The heavily armed team arrived at the PDP headquarters in the Wuse Zone 5 area of Abuja at approximately 2:04 p.m.
Upon arrival, the enforcement team encountered resistance from PDP staff, who locked the main gate from inside, barring access. However, FCDA officials proceeded to chain the gate and affixed a bold seal notice reading: “This property is now owned by FCTA. 26-5-25.”
Following a brief standoff, an agreement was reached at around 2:17 p.m., allowing PDP staff inside the premises to retrieve their personal belongings and drive out their vehicles before the building was officially shut down.
The sealing of the party headquarters forced the cancellation of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on the same day. The meeting was one of the key engagements in the party’s calendar and was expected to address internal leadership and organisational issues.
In response to the development, members of the PDP caucus reportedly convened an emergency meeting at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in the highbrow Asokoro district of Abuja. The meeting is said to be focused on evaluating the situation and determining the party’s next steps in the ongoing dispute with FCTA.
The FCTA’s action highlights the growing enforcement campaign against defaulting property owners in Abuja, especially those failing to meet statutory obligations such as ground rent payments. The case involving one of Nigeria’s largest political parties has now brought further attention to the government’s renewed focus on property compliance in the Federal Capital Territory.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s ruling party and currently the main opposition, has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. However, sources indicate that consultations are ongoing at the highest levels of the party.
