A major political confrontation is brewing in the nation’s capital after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) openly accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to intimidate hotel and event centre operators ahead of the planned ratification of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The PDP, in a strongly worded statement on Friday, declared that it would resist “every attempt to intimidate” the opposition, insisting that its special national convention scheduled for Saturday at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, would proceed as planned despite alleged threats from the FCT Administration.
The fresh controversy erupted hours after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued a warning to owners of event centres, hotels and other public facilities against allowing their premises to be used by what it described as “illegal organisations.”
In a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, the Administration warned that facilities used for gatherings organised by unlawful groups risked losing their land titles.
The statement said the FCTA had resolved to closely monitor event centres, hotels and public buildings in Abuja “to further ensure the security of lives and properties” and to prevent gatherings “capable of disrupting the peace of the nation’s capital.”
The Administration specifically directed owners of such facilities to deal only with leaderships of political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Failure to comply with this directive will result to revocation of the title documents such properties,” the FCTA warned.
But reacting to the development, the PDP alleged that the warning was specifically targeted at its planned convention and amounted to political intimidation.
In a statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party’s Interim National Working Committee Publicity Secretary, the PDP claimed that the proprietors of A Class Event Centre had informed the party of threats allegedly issued by Wike to shut down the facility if it hosted the Jonathan ratification event.
“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 said.
The opposition party maintained that all contractual and legal requirements for the use of the venue had already been fulfilled, including full payment and notification to security agencies.
“We had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. Furthermore, we had duly notified all relevant security agencies about the event,” the PDP stated.
The party further disclosed that its lawyers had been directed to formally communicate with the event centre management to reaffirm the binding agreement between both parties.
Despite the alleged pressure, the PDP insisted that the event would go ahead as scheduled.
“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.,” the statement added.
The PDP also accused the FCT Minister of overstepping his constitutional powers and attempting to suppress opposition politics in the country.
“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,” the party said.
In one of the sharpest lines of the statement, the PDP declared: “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 party called on its leaders, National Executive Committee members and stakeholders across the country to attend the convention as planned, framing the event as a test of democratic freedom and political pluralism in Nigeria.
The statement reads in full below: “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.
“We state here, and for the record, that we had furnished consideration in full to consummate the earlier offer and acceptance. 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“We invite party leaders from the states, NEC members, and other critical stakeholders to attend the event as scheduled”.