The noose further tightened around the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday evening with the sealing of the Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge in the Nigerian capital Abuja, which it had been using as temporary National Secretariat.

The group had relocated to Adamawa Governor’s Lodge located in Maitama District following the sealing off, by the police, of its about-to-be-opened National Secretariat located at Oyi Crescent, also in Maitama.

But the temporary secretariat also came under the hammer late yesterday on the orders of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Bala Mohammed. A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Mohammed Sule Hamzat, read: “The FCT Administration has sealed-off the Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital City for abuse of the Abuja Master Plan.

“All the Governor’s Lodges in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are enshrined in the Abuja Master Plan to be for residential purposes but not for Political Party Secretariat as Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge is currently being used.

“The Governor’s Lodge as it is today is being used as a Political Party Office thereby negating the spirit of urban planning and causing nuisance and disturbance on the residents dwelling in that area of the city as well as inflicting undue pressure on the infrastructure and services therein, contrary to the principles of the Abuja Master Plan.

“The FCT Administration will not rest on its oars until the entire 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City is rid of all illegal structures and/or illegal change of Land Use.

“It may be noted that any change of Land Use is usually accompanied with over stretching of facilities planned for certain number of people; apart from also causing high volume of traffic with its attendant problems.

“The Administration wishes to assure that all actions by a person or group of persons that inflict pains on the residents whether directly or indirectly would not be condoned as government is meant to serve and protect the rights of all.

“The FCTA will continue to protect the Abuja environment and the sanctity of the Abuja Master Plan in line with the dreams of its founding fathers; believing that such plans were meant to be obeyed and adhered to.”

News Express reports that the closure of the temporary secretariat is the third setback for the New PDP in one week. Earlier in the week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the faction’s application for recognition as the authentic PDP while a Lagos High Court presided over by Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie also threw out the suit it instituted against PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and his National Working Committee (NWC).

•Photo shows the New PDP National Secretariat earlier sealed by the police. The new Secretariat has equally been sealed.

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