The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strict directive to all its state chapters, banning them from receiving court documents or hiring lawyers without prior approval from the party’s national leadership. This move, announced by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, aims to centralise legal authority and prevent unauthorised legal actions ahead of the 2027 general elections. The directive requires every state chapter to immediately forward any court process served on the party to the National Legal Adviser at the ADC’s national headquarters in Abuja.
The decision follows reports that some court documents were being delivered to state chapters, and in certain cases, legal practitioners were engaged to represent the party without the knowledge or consent of the National Legal Adviser. The ADC stated that such actions violate the party’s constitutional framework, which clearly assigns exclusive legal authority to the National Legal Adviser. According to the party, only this official has the power to issue letters of instruction to any legal practitioner for representation in courts, tribunals, arbitrations, or administrative proceedings.
State executives, legal advisers, and other officials are now prohibited from receiving, acknowledging, or retaining any court documents served through state offices. The ADC emphasized that any legal action taken by state chapters without written approval from the National Legal Adviser will not be recognised as valid. Court papers served on state chapters will only be considered valid if a court specifically orders substituted service, and even then, they must be forwarded electronically to the National Legal Adviser without delay.
The party has also warned that any official or chapter found violating the directive—such as hiring lawyers or filing legal documents without authorisation—could face disciplinary action under the ADC’s constitution. This measure is part of a broader effort to ensure legal consistency, avoid conflicting legal positions, and maintain party unity during a critical political period. The ADC’s leadership seeks to prevent internal legal fragmentation that could weaken the party’s position in upcoming elections.
As political tensions rise and legal challenges become more common in Nigeria’s electoral landscape, the ADC’s directive underscores the importance of centralised legal management. The party’s actions reflect a growing trend among Nigerian political parties to strengthen internal governance and legal oversight. This move is expected to influence how other parties manage their legal affairs in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
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