You Can’t Intimidate Us – PDP Replies Wike Over Abuja Venue

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that it can’t be intimidated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The party noted that Wike has no powers to determine events that should be held and where they should be held.

The PDP faction loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde made the declaration in a statement on Friday, in which it reacted to a threat by Wike that event centres in Abuja which give their premises to political parties not recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), face revocation and closure.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said that following the threat from Wike, the management of A Class Event Centre has informed them of a threat to shut down their business premises if the PDP is allowed to use their hall for the ratification of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate.

The party, however, insisted that such would be a breach of agreement on the part of the event centre if its proceeds and their lawyers had been properly briefed.

Naija News reports that the PDP vowed to go ahead with Saturday’s event and urged all members and stakeholders to attend as scheduled.

“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,” the PDP said.