“I Will Seal Any Building Used by Turaki-Led PDP” — Wike

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has warned that any property or financial institution linked to a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki will face enforcement action.

The warning follows recent developments within the PDP, where Seyi Makinde appointed Turaki as chairman of a 13-member interim national working committee (NWC) during the party’s 103rd national executive committee meeting in Abuja on May 4.

Turaki had earlier declared himself party leader, citing a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria that nullified the PDP’s national convention held in November 2025.

Speaking at his monthly media briefing, Wike questioned the legitimacy of the Turaki-led group and challenged it to demonstrate transparency.

“When will people stop being fraudulent? You cannot disobey court judgments and then turn around to deceive Nigerians that you have a legitimate structure. That is not how democracy works,” he said.

Wike said any group claiming authority over the PDP must establish verifiable structures, including an official bank account for party transactions.

“If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them open an official account and tell party members to pay nomination fees into it,” he said.

He argued that opening such an account would require recognised party documentation and leadership credentials, which he said the faction does not possess.

“That bank will be in trouble because to open such an account, you must provide the party’s authentic documents and recognised leadership. Who has those documents?” he said.

The minister also issued a direct warning against establishing parallel party offices in the FCT.

“Let them open an office anywhere and call it PDP secretariat — I dare them,” Wike said. “If anybody goes ahead to open an illegal office in the name of the PDP in Abuja, I will seal it.”

He added that banks facilitating financial activities linked to the group could also face consequences.

“I will seal off any house that allows them to use it as the PDP headquarters. Any bank that allows them to open an account for the sale of nomination forms will be in trouble,” he said.

Wike said his actions would be guided by his responsibility to maintain law and order in Abuja, adding that unauthorised political structures would not be tolerated within the capital.