Dare Babalola
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to shut down any property in Abuja that accommodates what he described as a “fake” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) office being used by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction to sell nomination forms.
Wike also insisted that Senator Adolphus Wabara is no longer part of the PDP leadership, and maintained that Abdulrahman Mohammed remains the authentic National Chairman of the party’s National Working Committee.
He warned that he would not hesitate to seal any building within the FCT found to be hosting activities linked to the faction, particularly the sale of nomination forms, which he described as illegal and deceptive.
According to him, any attempt by the Turaki group to open an account for the sale of PDP forms would amount to fraud and would not be tolerated.
“I will seal any FCT building allowing the Turaki faction to open a PDP forms office,” Wike said. “Adolphus Wabara is no longer in the PDP; Abdulrahman is the current chairman of the PDP National Working Committee. I challenge Turaki, SAN, to open an account for the sale of PDP forms—his silk will be stripped.”
He further warned that any bank that facilitates such an account risked sanctions, arguing that proper account opening requires valid party documentation, including a certificate of incorporation held by the recognised party secretary.
“Any bank that opens such an account will face consequences. Opening an account requires a certificate of incorporation, which is held by the party’s secretary,” he added.
Wike also cautioned property owners in the FCT against allowing the faction to operate what he called an “illegal PDP office,” stressing that such actions would amount to aiding fraud and violating existing court judgments.
“Any property owner in the FCT who allows Turaki and others to set up a PDP office for the sale of forms is facilitating fraud and defying a court judgment. I am here to uphold peace, and I will seal that property,” he said.
Wike dismissed the Turaki-led caretaker committee as illegitimate, describing its activities as an attempt to mislead the public and create confusion within the opposition party.
He maintained that there is only one recognised PDP structure, with its national secretariat located at Wadata House, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, insisting that recent actions by the faction have no legal or constitutional backing.
The minister also reaffirmed that the recent PDP convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, which was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), remains the only valid and recognised national convention of the party, producing the current leadership of the PDP.
