By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
In an apparently flagrant disregard of the directive of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCDA, under the control of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike is yet to unseal the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 72 hours after the directive to reopen same.
The PDP national secretariat, located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, was sealed at about 2:07pm on Monday for defaulting in the payment of scculated ground rent running into years.
Among other public buildings sealed by the FCDA were the Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, headquarters, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIB office and Access Bank office in Wuse among others.
While the other sealed offices have been unsealed, the PDP headquarters has remained under lock and keys.
When reporters visited the PDP National Secretariat at around 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, the three entrances leading in and out of the office were firmly locked.
The entrances consist of two in the front and one at the back.
The PDP staff, the police and other private security personnel attached to the office were seen seating in front of the office, discussing the matter when our correspondent visited.
It will be recalled that the FCDA enforcement team, made up of Policemen, soldiers, operatives of Department of States Services, DSS, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Road Traffic Department, VIO and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency among others, arrived the PDP office, popularly known as Wadata House by 2: 04pm.
The gates to the PDP headquarters were already locked when the team arrived. After waiting for about few minutes without having access to the Wadata House, some of the members of the team sealed the office while another chained the gates from outside.
However, after a brief meeting with the management staff of the party, the sealed gate was reopened temporarily to enable staff move out their vehicles and personal belongings after which it was locked again.
The closure came hours to the scheduled board of trustees (BoT) meeting of the PDP preparatory to the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while reacting to the sealing described it as the height of irresponsibility.
Reacting to the development, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Ilya Damagum faulted the action, stressing that the FCTA will have the party to contend with.
President, it will be recalled, had,
swiftly ordered the FCDA to unseal the properties already sealed, giving the
owners of the affected buildings a- 14 day grace to perfect their payments.
