Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has withdrawn recognition of its diaspora chapters following a court judgment restricting political parties registered in Nigeria from establishing branches outside the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that the party announced the decision in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, saying it was acting in deference to a subsisting judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Peter Kekemeke in a suit between Professor Ali Alao and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with suit number CV/187/2025.
The party said the court ruled that “no political party registered in Nigeria has the legal authority to establish, operate or supervise chapters outside the country’s territorial boundaries.”
The court also reportedly described diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties as “illegal, unconstitutional, and unknown to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Director said the decision followed the party’s commitment to accountability, transparency and due process, adding that all previous recognitions granted to its foreign chapters had been withdrawn.
“The NDC wishes to withhold recognition of foreign chapters of the party in the diaspora,” the statement read.
The party, however, expressed appreciation to its diaspora supporters for their loyalty, guidance and contributions, assuring them that the withdrawal of recognition would not prevent them from maintaining contact with the party.
It also disclosed that a harmonisation process had begun in jurisdictions where multiple diaspora groups existed, with the aim of bringing them under a single umbrella.
NDC said it was studying the judgment and had referred the matter to its Legal Department for further advice and guidance.
The party further acknowledged the interest of Nigerians living abroad in its candidates, particularly its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and encouraged them to sustain their engagement through appropriate and lawful channels.
“We encourage our supporters in the diaspora to continue to meet and interact, and we shall remain in touch with them through appropriate and legal channels,” Director said.
