Wike’s FCTA yet to unseal PDP secretariat despite Tinubu’s order on ground rent defaulters

Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive giving property owners a two-week grace period to settle outstanding ground rents, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by Minister Nyesom Wike, has yet to unseal the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the PDP headquarters located at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, remained under lock and key. A seal from the FCTA was visibly posted beside the padlocked gate, signaling that the enforcement action remains in effect.

The sealing of the opposition party’s secretariat had earlier stirred controversy, with many questioning the timing and perceived political undertone of the action.

Platinumpost reported that the FCTA had shut down the PDP office due to alleged non-payment of ground rent a statutory fee property owners are required to pay for land use in the capital city.

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On Monday afternoon, a group of FCTA staff locked the entrance gate of Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s national secretariat located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

Ground rent is a yearly fee landowners pay for the right to occupy and use their land.

It would be recalled that in March 2025, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), revoked 4,794 land titles in the country’s capital.

The decision was reached over alleged non-payment of ground rents.

In response to the sealing of properties in the FCTA, President Tinubu ordered a temporary suspension of the enforcement and granted a 14-day grace period for affected property owners to settle their outstanding ground rent obligations.

A statement issued by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration in the FCT, confirmed the President’s directive.

According to the statement, the FCTA had earlier begun enforcement on 4,794 properties revoked over non-payment of ground rent spanning between 10 and 43 years.