NDC withdraws recognition of diaspora chapter, gives reason

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced withdrawal of recognition of the party’s diaspora chapter.

The NDC spokesperson, Osa Director, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Director explained that the decision was in compliance with a subsisting court judgement barring political parties from establishing branches outside the country.

The spokesperson said the decision was taken in the interest of accountability, transparency and due process.

“The NDC wishes to withhold recognition of foreign chapters of the party in the diaspora,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “We are deeply appreciative of the immense support of various foreign chapters in the diaspora. We are grateful for their unwavering loyalty, guidance, and contributions to the party.

“However, as a political party committed to the virtues of accountability, transparency, and due process, we are aware of a subsisting court judgement restricting political parties from organising foreign-based chapters.”

The court judgement

Mr Director said a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja delivered the court which barred political parties from establishing branches outside the country.

He said the judgement was delivered by Peter Kekemeke, a judge of the FCT court, in a case between Ali Alao, a professor, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) with suit number CV/187/2025.

The NDC spokesperson said the court held that “no political party registered in Nigeria has the legal authority to establish, operate or supervise chapters outside the country’s territorial boundaries”.

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He said the court described the diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties as “illegal, unconstitutional, and unknown to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

“In deference to the said judgement, the NDC is halting recognition of foreign chapters of the party, and all earlier recognitions are hereby withdrawn,” he declared.

Mr Director stressed that NDC had initiated a harmonisation process in jurisdictions with multiple groups to bring them under one umbrella.

He said that the party was studying the judgement and had referred it to its legal department for further advice.

The spokesperson said NDC appreciated the interest of Nigerians in the diaspora in the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other candidates.

“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,” he assured.