The Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has stated it will resist attempts to frustrate its planned presidential candidate ratification convention in Abuja.
According to a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the faction stated that the event to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate will go ahead as scheduled.
The party berated the Federal Capital Territory Administration for threatening to shut down the venue of the event if it was allowed to use the facility.
The party claims that it had been informed by the management of A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, about the alleged threat.
“We have been informed by the proprietors of A Class Event Centre of the threat by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to shut down their business premises if the Peoples Democratic Party is allowed to use their hall for our presidential candidate ratification ceremonies,” the statement read.
The party said it had fulfilled all requirements for the use of the venue, including payment and notification to security agencies.
“We state here, and for the record, that 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 PDP stated.
According to the party, its lawyers had also been directed to write to the management of the event centre to remind them of the agreement already reached.
The PDP maintained that the convention to ratify Jonathan’s candidature would proceed as planned on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the venue.
“Having satisfied these requirements, we reiterate that the special convention to ratify the presidential candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan will hold as scheduled on Saturday, 30th May, 2026, at A Class Event Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10 a.m.,” the statement added.
The party described any attempt to stop the gathering as an attack on democratic principles and political opposition.
“We are certain that Nigeria is a country governed by law, and any attempt to use force to suppress political dissent and opposition is an aberration which must be resisted by all people of good conscience,” it stated.
The PDP further argued that the FCT Minister had no constitutional authority to determine which political events should be held in the nation’s capital.
“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 said.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that the FCTA had warned owners of event centres, hotels and other public buildings in Abuja against permitting illegal organisations to use their facilities, saying violators risk losing their property titles.
FCTA warns event centres, hotels against hosting parties not recognised by INEC
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, land allocations within the Federal Capital Territory are strictly for lawful purposes, adding that sanctions would be imposed on defaulters.
The administration stated that “going forward, title documents of any event centre, hotel or public building that is used for the gathering of illegal organisations will be revoked.”
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