Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied allegations that the sealing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat was politically motivated.

On Monday, the FCT Authority sealed the PDP National Secretariat along with several other buildings for defaulting on ground rent payments. The action has sparked controversy, with some suggesting it was a targeted move against the opposition party.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Olayinka emphasized that the enforcement exercise had no political undertones. "We are not here for politics. If you are talking about a political witch-hunt, we have been to Ibro Hotels, we have been to Access Bank, we have been to FIRS, we have been to Total Petrol Station, and tomorrow we will go to other places," he stated.

Olayinka further explained that the operation would continue until all 4,000 affected properties were sealed. "This exercise will continue as long as we are able to conclude taking possession of those over 4,000 properties. So, are we also going to say all those that I mentioned are political?" he questioned.

Meanwhile, the PDP's Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has expressed strong opposition to the sealing of the party's headquarters. Damagum condemned the FCTA's action and vowed that the party "would not take it lightly."

The development comes amid reports that the PDP Board of Trustees has called an emergency meeting to address the situation, while the party's National Executive Committee meeting was also scheduled to convene.

Earlier, the FCT Minister had given defaulters a 14-day ultimatum to pay their ground rent or face enforcement actions, which appears to be part of a broader revenue recovery effort by the FCT Administration.