Wike revokes PDP Secretariat over unpaid ground rent

 

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land title of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat in Abuja.

The disputed land of the country's main opposition party was revoked over two decades of unpaid ground rent.

FCTA's Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, in a letter dated March 13, 2025, said PDP has been officially notified of the revocation.

Nwankwoeze explained that the revocation followed several failed attempts to compel the the party to pay the ground debt owed since 2006.

He added that several notifications were published on national dailies and announced on several broadcast media.

The document, titled “Notice of Right of Occupancy”, stated that PDP had defaulted on payments since January 1, 2006, despite repeated warnings from the FCT Administration.

“The Minister, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act, has revoked your rights, interests, and privileges over Plot No. 243, Central Area, Abuja due to non-compliance with payment obligations,” the letter read.

“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025.

“This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.

“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act,” the letter added.