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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of attempting to interfere with its planned presidential candidate ratification event scheduled to hold in Abuja.
The party said it received information from the proprietors of A Class Event Centre, the planned venue, that they had been threatened with closure if they allowed the PDP to use their facility for the ceremony.
This was contained in a statement on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
The PDP said it had already made full payment for the venue and duly notified relevant security agencies about the event, adding that its lawyers had also been instructed to formally remind the event centre of these arrangements.
The party insisted that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of former President Goodluck Jonathan would go ahead as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.
“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,” the statement read.
It maintained that Nigeria is governed by law and argued that no public official including Wike has the authority to determine where political parties can hold lawful meetings, describing any attempt to restrict such activities as undemocratic.
The PDP further alleged that any effort to disrupt the event would amount to an attempt to suppress opposition politics, insisting that such actions have no basis in a democratic system.
“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,”it added.
The party called on its leaders, members of the National Executive Committee, and stakeholders across the country to attend the convention as planned.
