The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that any property used as a secretariat by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki will be shut down in Abuja.
The development follows the emergence of Turaki as chairman of a 13-member interim national working committee (NWC), a move announced after a national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party held on May 4. The appointment was backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Turaki has since claimed leadership of the PDP, citing a Supreme Court ruling that nullified the party’s national convention held in November 2025.
Reacting during his monthly media briefing on Wednesday, Wike questioned the legitimacy of the faction and challenged its leaders to demonstrate transparency if they truly represent the party.
“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.
“You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them open an official PDP account and tell party members to pay nomination fees into it.
“Let Turaki, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, open an [bank] account for the PDP. Let them announce it publicly for members who want to contest elections. That day, you will see what will happen. He will lose his silk.”
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Wike insisted that any attempt by the group to operate as a parallel leadership would expose what he described as its lack of legal standing.
“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? Who has the certificate of incorporation? It is the secretary of the party,” he said.
“You don’t form a leadership in your bedroom and call it a national structure. Let them open an office anywhere and call it PDP secretariat — I dare them. That is how you know what is real and what is not.
“If anybody goes ahead to open an illegal office in the name of the PDP in Abuja, I will seal it. I will not allow any breach of peace because my duty is to maintain law and order in the Federal Capital Territory.
“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.”
