In Pushback, FCT Blames Revocation of PDP Secretariat on Parry Officials

In Pushback over allegations of political considerations in the revocation of the Peoples Demicratic.Party (PDP) secretariat title, the Federal Capital City has denied any influence but blamed the situation on party officials who refused to pay the ground rent for years.

A statement by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike alleged that party officials as against Wike should be blamed for the situation. He said the FCT Ministry's decision to revoke the land title has sparked arguments in the PDP, with some of the party leaders, such as Chief Bode George, blaming the current administration under Wike for not paying ground rent.

Olayinka, however, blames the elders of the PDP, like George, who held key leadership positions over the years.

These elders, according to Olayinka, were in leadership when the party neglected to pay the required ground rent for 28 years, pointing out that even when they had the opportunity to settle the accrued payment, the PDP leadership shirked in its responsibility, which later led to the land title cancellation.

Olayinka's statement has come at a time when the PDP leadership is shifting the blame to Wike, with many party members accusing the FCT Minister of acting in bad faith.

However, Olayinka explained that the failure of the PDP leadership to resolve the issue for so long was the reason for the crisis and not Wike's behaviour.

The FCT Administration Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, corroborated Olayinka's claim that the PDP had not remitted about N7.6 million ground rent from 2006 to 2025. The revocation was necessary to enforce compliance with land laws, Nwankwoeze added, stating that the PDP was not the only one affected by the action, adding that other groups and individuals who have outstanding payments have also been so affected. Olayinka also stressed that while the action taken by the FCT Ministry has been questioned, it was within a general process of implementing land ownership laws and making sure that everyone makes the necessary payment. He cont need that the PDP should vent its anger at the party leadership, which did nothing over the years, rather than blaming Wike, who is merely enforcing the law.

The present controversy is used to highlight a larger issue of mismanagement by political parties and the consequences that can arise when financial obligations are overlooked in the long run. The other members of the PDP continue to denounce the FCT Minister, but cancellation of the land title is an indication of respecting legal and financial requirements.