According to him, the affected land titles belonged to allottees who failed to pay ground rent for over a decade, including PDP.
By Titilope Adako
Nigeria – Abuja: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the revocation of its land title was politically motivated, stating that other institutions, including INEC and CBN, were also affected.
It was reported that Wike approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles on March 17, 2025, affecting individuals, corporate organisations, and government institutions over non-payment of ground rent for more than 10 years.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday during a visit by the Body of Benchers led by Chairman Adegboyega Awomolo, Wike dismissed PDP’s allegations and said the decision was strictly based on default in rent payments.
He lamented that executive decisions were often misinterpreted through political, religious, and ethnic sentiments.
According to him, the affected land titles belonged to allottees who failed to pay ground rent for over a decade, including PDP.
Wike criticised the party for failing to pay N7.6 million in ground rent for its land in Central Area, Abuja, despite generating between N13 billion and N20 billion from selling party forms while in power.
He also revealed that Wadata Plaza, the PDP National Secretariat, was not registered under the party’s name but under a senator residing in Abuja, who had defaulted on ground rent payments for 28 years.
“Maybe they had a deal with the man and did not complete the deed of assignment, yet they are accusing me of targeting them. What kind of mentality is that?” Wike questioned.
He stressed that the revocation was not selective, citing that the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria also lost land titles due to non-payment.
He disclosed that the CBN had appealed for a reversal but was told to clear its outstanding ground rent first.
Wike further urged the Body of Benchers to fulfil their financial obligations, warning that no defaulter would be exempted.
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