Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticisms from former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido regarding the recent sealing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat.

In a terse response on Wednesday, Olayinka emphasized that under Wike's leadership, everyone in the Federal Capital Territory must obey established laws, stating that the minister "does not belong to Sule Lamido's society of impunity and lawlessness."

The exchange follows Lamido's call for Wike's expulsion from the PDP, describing the minister as "a disaster" and threatening to boycott party activities if Wike is not dealt with. Lamido had expressed strong disapproval of the sealing of the PDP's National Secretariat.

Background of the Property Sealing

The FCT Authority, under Wike's direction, had sealed the PDP National Secretariat along with other properties for defaulting on ground rent payments. The action was part of a broader enforcement affecting 4,794 properties whose land titles were revoked for non-payment spanning periods from 10 to 43 years.

Following public outcry, President Bola Tinubu intervened, prompting the minister to grant defaulters a 14-day grace period to settle their outstanding ground rent obligations.

Questioning Lamido's political relevance, Olayinka remarked: "We don't have time to exchange words with someone who carries on like PDP as a party is only about his Jigawa, where he is the beginning and the last of the party."

He further challenged Lamido's legacy, asking: "Since he left office as governor in 2015, what has PDP produced in Jigawa, apart from Sule Lamido and his children as the party's candidates?"

The verbal sparring highlights growing tensions within the PDP, with Wike—who remains a PDP member despite working in the APC-led federal government—continuing to be a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics.

The PDP Board of Trustees reportedly held an emergency meeting to address the sealing of the party's National Secretariat, though Wike's team has maintained that the action was not politically motivated but strictly an enforcement of FCT regulations.