The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its new national secretariat, located in the Central Area, Abuja, to a revocation exercise just effected by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
A letter signed on behalf of the FCT Minister by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and tagged “Notice of Revocation of Right of Occupancy with File Number MISC 81346 in Respect of Plot Number 243 within Central Area District, Abuja,” addressed to the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, made it clear that the revocation was done in view of the party’s breach of the terms and conditions of the grant of the Right of Occupancy.
It read: “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests, and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
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“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the 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 properties.
“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.
“I am to further inform you that the subject property (Plot No. 243, Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja) has thus reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and the Administration will take immediate possession thereof.”
The PDP secretariat building, which was initially estimated to cost N16b, had reached an advanced stage before it was abandoned when the party lost control of the Federal Government in 2015.
But after raising over N62b through fundraising and the sale of forms over four election cycles, the 12-storey project remains an unfulfilled ambition for the party.
In 2008, the party’s fourth National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, initiated plans for the construction of a suitable new secretariat.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, failed to respond to requests for comments on the revocation when attempts were made to get the party’s official reaction.
