PDP faction accuses Wike of threatening event venue ahead of Jonathan’s ratification

The deepening crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Friday as an interim faction accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of attempting to sabotage its scheduled special convention.

According to a statement issued by the Interim National Working Committee of the party, Wike allegedly threatened to shut down the A Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja, if the facility allows the faction to host its presidential primary ratification ceremony.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, is organized to officially ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as the faction’s presidential candidate.

The National Publicity Secretary of the interim PDP faction, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated that the management of the event center informed them of the Minister’s alleged threats.

Ememobong maintained that the political block had fulfilled all financial and legal obligations required to seal the venue booking, noting that full payment had been made and relevant security agencies had been duly notified.

The faction has already directed its legal team to write to the venue management to reaffirm the binding contract.

Despite the alleged intimidation, the faction insisted that the special convention will proceed at 10:00 a.m. as planned. Leaders from various states, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and other critical stakeholders have been urged to attend the gathering.

The opposition faction strongly condemned the alleged interference, labeling it an abuse of power and an undemocratic attempt to stifle political dissent.

The leadership argued that no Nigerian law empowers the FCT Minister to determine which events should hold or where they should be hosted, describing such actions as an aberration that must be resisted by all people of good conscience.

“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,” Ememobong stated.

Recall that the Minister had earlier today issued an advisory to event centres and hotel owners warning them to stop offering their facilities for use by illegal organizations.