The Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has stated that only Minister Nyesom Wike can reinstate the revoked land title of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat.
The controversy arose after the FCT Directorate of Lands revoked the title of the PDP’s under-construction Secretariat in the Central Area. A letter signed by the FCT Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, confirmed the revocation, clarifying that while the Central Area property belonged to the PDP, the party’s current Wadata Plaza Secretariat in Wuse is owned by Senator Samaila Mamman Kurfi.
Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, Olayinka dismissed claims of political bias, stating that the PDP’s land was among 4,794 properties revoked due to unpaid ground rents spanning 10 to 43 years. He emphasized that the minister treated all defaulters equally and urged the PDP to formally request reconsideration instead of resorting to media campaigns.
“The PDP’s property in the Central Area was revoked like others with outstanding dues. If the party seeks redress, it should write to the minister, just like every affected titleholder, and appeal for a chance to settle its debt,” Olayinka said.
He denied allegations of political victimization, noting that Wike, though a PDP member, was not involved in the party’s administrative decisions and had no prior knowledge of the PDP’s inclusion in the revocation list.
“The minister acted on a list of 8,375 defaulters presented to him. He didn’t single out the PDP—the revocation followed due process,” Olayinka added.
The PDP has yet to formally appeal the revocation, leaving the fate of its Secretariat property solely in the hands of the FCT Minister.
