PDP Alleges Wike Threatened Abuja Event Centre Over Jonathan Ratification Convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), , of threatening to shut down an Abuja event centre over plans to host the party’s presidential candidate ratification ceremony for former President .

In a statement issued on Friday, the party alleged that the proprietors of A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, informed its leadership of threats allegedly made by the FCT minister to seal the premises if the PDP was allowed to use the facility for the event.

The statement was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong.

According to the PDP, it had fully paid for the venue and fulfilled all necessary requirements, including notifying relevant security agencies about the planned convention.

“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 statement said.

The party disclosed that its lawyers had been directed to formally communicate with the management of the event centre on the matter.

Despite the alleged threat, the PDP insisted that the special convention to ratify Jonathan’s presidential candidature would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.

The opposition party described any attempt to suppress political gatherings through intimidation or force as undemocratic and contrary to the rule of law.

According to the statement, there is no provision in Nigerian law empowering the FCT minister to determine which events can hold at private venues.

“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 statement added.

The PDP further argued that such actions were only associated with authoritarian systems and not democratic governance.

The party called on its leaders across the states, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other stakeholders to attend the event as planned.