The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has directed all its state chapters to stop receiving court documents or engaging lawyers on behalf of the party without the approval of its national leadership.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who instructed all state chapters to immediately forward any court processes served on the party to the National Legal Adviser at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja.
The directive comes amid increasing political activities and legal disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the party, it has received reports that some court documents were being served on state chapters, while legal practitioners were allegedly being engaged to represent the party without the knowledge or approval of the National Legal Adviser.
“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 statement said.
The ADC stressed that its constitution gives only the National Legal Adviser the authority to appoint lawyers or initiate legal action on behalf of the party.
“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,” the party stated.
The party also directed state executives, legal advisers and other officials not to receive, acknowledge or retain any court documents served on the party through state offices.
It further warned that state chapters and party officials have no authority to appoint lawyers, file legal processes, appear in court or take legal decisions on behalf of the party without written approval from the National Legal Adviser.
The ADC added that court documents served on state chapters would not be recognised as valid service on the party unless a court specifically orders substituted service. In such cases, the documents must be forwarded immediately to the National Legal Adviser through electronic means.
The party warned that any official or state chapter that violates the directive or engages legal practitioners without authorisation could face disciplinary action under the party’s constitution.
