The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has strongly criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for allocating a portion of the Old Parade Ground in Area 10, Abuja, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the construction of its new national secretariat. The party condemned the move as a blatant misuse of executive power and called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and revoke the allocation, citing concerns over national heritage and public accountability.

In a press statement released in Abuja, the SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, expressed the party’s alarm over what it described as the improper and hasty handover of a key national monument to a political party. The Old Parade Ground, which predates Eagle Square, has historically been used for civic, cultural, and national events, making it a symbol of Nigeria’s shared heritage. The SDP argued that turning it into a partisan structure is not only inappropriate but also erodes the public’s trust in the stewardship of national assets.

The SDP revealed that on August 8, 2025, Minister Wike approved the excision and allocation of two hectares of the Parade Ground—identified as Plot 4742 in Cadastral Zone A01, Garki District—to the APC. The party found it highly suspicious that the Right of Occupancy and the Certificate of Occupancy were both issued on the same day, bypassing standard procedures and waiving applicable statutory fees.

Further, the SDP suggested that Wike’s actions were driven by President Tinubu’s remarks at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in July 2025, where he reportedly called for a new party headquarters. The statement accused Wike of excessive attempts to gain favor with the president, citing the controversial renaming of the Abuja International Conference Centre and other politically motivated projects.