The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCTDA) for sealing off its national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja, over alleged unpaid ground rent.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Acting PDP Chairman Umar Damagum described the action as “irresponsible” and vowed that the party would legally challenge the move. Following the development, the PDP caucus meeting was adjourned to 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Damagum declined to confirm whether the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting would still hold as scheduled.
Earlier in the day, officials of the FCTA sealed off Wadata Plaza, which houses the PDP national headquarters, citing unpaid ground and tenancy rent spanning 28 years. According to Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the party owes N7,603,504.31 in arrears.
“On Wadata Plaza being used as PDP National Secretariat, N7,603,504.31 is being owed as 28 years’ Ground Rent,” Olayinka stated via Facebook.
Wadata Plaza was one of several buildings sealed off by the FCT Administration on Monday. Others included facilities housing a commercial bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Abuja’s Wuse Zone 5 area.
According to Olayinka, the FIRS has reportedly not paid ground rent for 25 years.
The enforcement followed earlier warnings by the FCTA about widespread non-compliance by property owners, which has led to a revenue loss of over N6 billion in the past decade.
The PDP, however, has suggested political motives behind the sealing, with party insiders raising concerns about the timing and optics of the enforcement action.
