The African Democratic Congress has moved to tighten control over all legal matters involving the party, directing its state chapters nationwide to stop receiving court processes or engaging lawyers on its behalf without authorisation from the national leadership.
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The directive, contained in a public notice issued on Wednesday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, mandates all state chapters to immediately forward any court documents served on the party to the National Legal Adviser at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
The development comes amid heightened political activity and increasing litigation involving political parties following the formation of the ADC-led opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the notice, the party said it had received reports that court processes relating to the ADC were being served on some state chapters, while legal practitioners had allegedly been engaged to represent the party without the knowledge or approval of its national legal office.
According to the statement, “The attention of the African Democratic Congress has been drawn to reports that court processes relating to the party are being served on some state chapters of the party and that, in certain instances, legal practitioners have been engaged purportedly on behalf of the party without the knowledge, consent or authority of the National Legal Adviser.”
The party maintained that, under its constitution, only the National Legal Adviser has the authority to instruct lawyers or represent the ADC in legal proceedings.
It stated, “For the avoidance of doubt and in accordance with the Constitution of the African Democratic Congress, only the National Legal Adviser of the party is authorised to issue letters of instruction to any legal practitioner to represent, act for, or take steps on behalf of the party in any court, tribunal, arbitration, administrative proceeding or other legal process.”
Consequently, the ADC directed all state executives, legal advisers, officers, members and representatives not to receive or acknowledge any court process purportedly served on the party through state offices.
The statement continued, “All state chapters, executive committee members, officers, especially state legal advisers, members and representatives of the party are hereby directed not to receive, accept, acknowledge, or take custody of any court process purportedly served on the party at any state chapter, state secretariat, local office or through any state officer of the party.”
The party also barred state officials from appointing lawyers, filing court processes, entering appearances or taking any legal steps on behalf of the ADC without express written approval from the National Legal Adviser.
According to the notice, “No state chapter, state legal adviser, state executive committee member, or any other state-level officer has authority to engage counsel, issue instructions, file processes, enter appearance, concede claims, compromise proceedings, or otherwise represent the legal position of the party without the express written authority of the National Legal Adviser.”
The ADC further declared that court processes served on state chapters would not be regarded as valid service on the party, except where a court specifically orders substituted service.
In such instances, it directed that the documents be transmitted electronically to the National Legal Adviser without delay.
“Any purported service of court processes on any state chapter or state officer of the party shall not be treated as a valid service on the African Democratic Congress.
“All such processes must be referred immediately to the National Legal Adviser at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja for appropriate action,” the statement added.
The party warned that any officer or chapter that disregards the directive or engages legal practitioners without authorisation could face disciplinary measures under the ADC constitution.
“The leadership of the party expects strict compliance with this directive. Any unauthorised engagement of legal practitioners or handling of court processes in the name of the party may expose the affected officer or chapter to disciplinary measures in accordance with the party constitution and other applicable rules,” it stated.
The directive is the clearest indication yet that the ADC leadership is seeking to centralise legal control as the party navigates a wave of political realignments and anticipated court challenges arising from the emergence of a broad opposition coalition on its platform.
Political parties in Nigeria frequently become subjects of litigation over leadership disputes, nominations, membership and internal decisions, making coordinated legal representation critical to protecting their interests.
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