PDP condemns revocation of its land title, accuses APC of suppressing opposition

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the revocation of its Right of Occupancy by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, describing it as a calculated move to stifle opposition and weaken democracy.

In a statement released on Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, criticized the decision by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, to revoke the party’s land title.

The affected properties include the PDP’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, and a new building currently under construction.

The party accused the APC-led administration of using state powers to intimidate opposition voices, warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s democratic process.

Ologunagba described the move as “a drive towards totalitarianism and a threat to democracy.”

“The NWC is currently in a meeting, and I will provide a detailed response shortly,” Ologunagba stated.

The PDP insists that the action is politically motivated and aimed at suppressing opposition voices in the country.

Earlier, Wike revoked the land of the PDP’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.

Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.

It was signed by the Director, Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze.

According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.

The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.

The notice read in part,

“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 1st 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.”