ABUJA, Nigeria – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strongly denied allegations made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the revocation of its land title in Central Area, Abuja, was a political move aimed at suppressing opposition.
Wike made the statement during a visit by officials of the Body of Benchers, led by Chairman Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, in Abuja on Friday, March 28, 2025.
He expressed his dismay over the PDP’s claims that the revocation was part of an effort to stifle opposition, stating that such accusations were baseless and politically motivated.
“The revocation of land titles for allottees who have failed to pay mandatory ground rent for over 10 years is a routine action and should not be misinterpreted as a political move,” Wike explained.
“Political, religious, and ethnic sentiments are often linked to every executive action in the country, but this is a purely administrative issue.”
The minister pointed out that despite the PDP being in power for several years, it had failed to pay the N7.6 million ground rent for its land title in the Central Area, where the party is constructing its National Secretariat.
He further noted that despite the party generating significant revenue through the sale of party forms—between N13 billion and N20 billion—the ground rent had remained unpaid.
Wike also revealed that the Wadata Plaza, where the PDP’s National Secretariat is located, was not officially registered under the party’s name, but rather under a senator residing in Abuja.
He highlighted that the registered owner had failed to pay the ground rent for 28 years.
Despite this, the PDP continued to claim that Wike’s actions were aimed at targeting their secretariat.
“Maybe they had a deal with the man and did not complete the deed of assignment and were shouting that Wike sent to revoke the land as a ploy to kill opposition. What kind of mentality is that?” Wike questioned.
The minister emphasized that the revocation of land titles was not exclusive to the PDP.
He pointed out that other institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had also faced similar actions for the same reason—failure to pay ground rent.
He mentioned that the CBN had requested the reversal of its land title revocation but had been told that the outstanding ground rent must first be settled.
Wike warned the Body of Benchers to ensure they paid their ground rent, adding that no defaulting land allottee, regardless of their status, would be spared from the revocation process.
“I want to make it clear: no one is above the law,” Wike stated.
“We will not spare anyone who refuses to fulfil their obligations regarding ground rent.”
