PDP Vows To Resist FCT Minister Wike’s Plot To Stop Its Presidential Candidate, Goodluck Jonathan’s Ratification Ceremony
PDP Vows To Resist FCT Minister Wike’s Plot To Stop Its Presidential Candidate, Goodluck Jonathan’s Ratification Ceremony
The PDP faction, in a statement issued on Friday by its Interim National Working Committee, alleged that Wike threatened to shut down the venue of the event, A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, if the hall was made available for the gathering.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by the former Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has vowed to resist alleged attempt by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to frustrate its planned presidential candidate ratification convention scheduled to hold in Abuja on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
The PDP faction, in a statement issued on Friday by its Interim National Working Committee, alleged that Wike threatened to shut down the venue of the event, A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, if the hall was made available for the gathering.
In the statement signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP declared that it would resist “every attempt to intimidate” members of the party and opposition voices.
“We have been informed by the proprietors of A Class Event Centre of the threat by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to shut down their business premises if the Peoples Democratic Party is allowed to use their hall for our presidential candidate ratification ceremonies,” the statement read.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) threatened to revoke the land titles of hotels, event centres and other public facilities in Abuja found hosting gatherings linked to what it described as “illegal organisations.”
The administration said the move is part of efforts to tighten security across the nation’s capital amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday by Mr Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Wike, the FCTA warned owners of event centres, hotels and public buildings to scrutinise groups seeking to use their facilities or risk severe sanctions.
According to the statement, lands allocated within the Federal Capital Territory are meant strictly for lawful purposes, warning that any property used by organisations deemed illegal could lose its title documents.
The administration added that the facilities would now come under closer monitoring as part of broader security measures aimed at preventing activities capable of destabilising Abuja.
The FCTA said the monitoring was specifically targeted at stopping “illegal organisations” from using public facilities for meetings and gatherings “capable of disrupting the peace of the nation’s capital.”
But the Turaki-led PDP faction said it has already fulfilled all requirements for the event, including payment for the venue and notification to relevant security agencies.
“We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance,” Ememobong stated.
“Furthermore, we had duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event. We have directed our lawyers to write, reminding A Class Event Centre of these facts,” he added.
The PDP faction insisted that its special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of former President Goodluck Jonathan would proceed as planned on Saturday.
“Having satisfied these requirements, we reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled on Saturday, 30th May, 2026, at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.,” Ememobong added.
The faction further accused the FCT minister of attempting to suppress political opposition and warned against actions it described as inconsistent with democratic norms.
“We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience,” the statement noted.
“There is nowhere in our laws where the Minister of the FCT is empowered to determine events that should be held and where they should be held.
“Such limitless powers are strange to a democratic republic, but available and operational only under an emperor, a title that President Tinubu has been struggling to deny.”
The faction also called on party leaders, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other stakeholders across the country to attend the event as scheduled.
