The Nigeria Democratic Congress has withdrawn recognition of all its chapters operating outside Nigeria, citing a subsisting judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory which held that Nigerian political parties have no legal authority to establish, operate or supervise branches outside the country.
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The decision, announced on Sunday, October 18, 2026, comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections and clarifies the status of groups operating abroad in the name of the NDC.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party said its leadership had reviewed its relationship with organisations operating as NDC chapters in the diaspora and decided to withdraw all previous recognitions in deference to the court’s decision.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court, Maitama, in Suit No. CV/187/2025, which dealt with the legality of foreign chapters maintained by political parties registered in Nigeria.
The court held that political parties registered in Nigeria lacked legal authority to establish or conduct party structures and congresses outside Nigeria’s territorial boundaries and declared such diaspora chapters illegal and unknown to Nigerian law. The judgment also affected the United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress, whose congress was nullified.
Reacting to the decision, the NDC said it was immediately halting official recognition of all its foreign chapters.
“In deference to the said judgment, the NDC is halting recognition of foreign chapters of the party, and all earlier recognitions are hereby withdrawn,” the party said.
The party stressed, however, that the decision did not amount to severing its relationship with Nigerians living abroad or preventing its supporters in the diaspora from maintaining an interest in Nigerian politics.
The judgment itself recognised that Nigerians living abroad could support and mobilise for candidates of their choice, although registered political parties could not formally establish and operate foreign chapters.
The NDC consequently encouraged its supporters abroad to continue meeting and interacting while the party maintains communication with them through channels consistent with Nigerian law.
It also acknowledged what it described as the substantial support, loyalty and contributions it had received from diaspora supporters over the years.
The party said it was particularly aware of the interest Nigerians abroad had shown in its candidates, including its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and encouraged them to sustain that interest.
“The party is aware of the tremendous interest that Nigerians in the diaspora have in our candidates, especially our presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and we thank them and encourage them to sustain such interest with more vigour,” the statement said.
The NDC also disclosed that it had commenced a harmonisation process in jurisdictions where more than one organisation claimed affiliation with the party.
It explained that the process was intended to bring supporters under a coordinated arrangement while the legal implications of the court judgment were being considered.
The party said its Legal Department was studying the judgment and would advise the leadership on how its relationship with supporters outside Nigeria could operate without violating the court’s decision.
The withdrawal therefore affects the formal recognition of diaspora chapters rather than the ability of Nigerians living overseas to individually associate, discuss politics or support candidates within the limits of the law.
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