Nigeria Democratic Congress said it has ended formal recognition of its overseas chapters, citing a court ruling it says limits party organization abroad as the 2027 election approaches.
National Publicity Secretary Osa Director signed the statement, dated Sunday, Oct. 18. The NDC said it had withdrawn all previous recognition for foreign chapters in response to what it called a subsisting judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The party named the case as Prof. Ali Alao v. All Progressives Congress (APC) & Anor, Suit No. CV/187/2025. It said the judgment restricts Nigerian political parties from organizing chapters outside the country. That account describes the ruling as the NDC presented it.
The party said it had started bringing together groups in jurisdictions where more than one organization operated under the NDC name. It also referred the judgment to its legal department for review and further advice.
NDC encouraged supporters abroad to keep meeting and interacting. Osa said the party would remain in contact through “appropriate and legal channels.” The statement also thanked diaspora supporters for their interest in the party’s candidates, particularly Peter Obi, whom the NDC identified as its presidential candidate.
The NDC has separately said it would keep its ticket in the 2027 race. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lists Jan. 16, 2027, for Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
