The party’s national leadership says all court documents must go through its Abuja legal office as political activity rises ahead of 2027
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has directed all its state chapters to stop receiving court processes or engaging lawyers on behalf of the party without the approval of its national leadership, as legal and political activities gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The directive was issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who instructed every state chapter to forward any court documents served on the party to the office of the National Legal Adviser at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja.
According to Abdullahi, the party has received reports that court processes were being served on some state chapters and that lawyers had, in some cases, been engaged to represent the ADC without the knowledge or authorisation of its 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 party said its constitution vests the authority to appoint legal representatives and manage litigation exclusively in the office of the National Legal Adviser.
“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 statement added.
The ADC also instructed state executives, legal advisers and other officials not to receive, acknowledge or retain court documents served through state offices.
Instead, any legal process involving the party must be forwarded immediately to the National Legal Adviser for appropriate action.
The party further clarified that state chapters have no authority to appoint lawyers, file court processes, appear in legal proceedings or make litigation-related decisions without prior written approval from the National Legal Adviser.
It added that court papers served on state chapters would not be regarded as valid service on the party unless a court expressly ordered substituted service.
In such circumstances, the documents must be transmitted electronically to the National Legal Adviser without delay.
The ADC warned that any state chapter or party official found to have violated the directive or engaged legal practitioners without proper authorisation could face disciplinary measures under the party’s constitution.
The directive comes as political parties prepare for what is expected to be an active pre-election period marked by internal contests, legal challenges and heightened political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The move appears aimed at centralising the party’s legal strategy and ensuring a consistent response to litigation involving the ADC.
