NDC withdraws recognition of diaspora chapters

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has withdrawn recognition of its diaspora chapters, citing a court judgment that the party says bars Nigerian political parties from establishing or operating chapters abroad. Osa Director, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, announced the decision in a statement issued October 18. He said the NDC was acting in deference to a subsisting judgment by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in the case Prof. Ali Alao v. All Progressives Congress, Suit No. CV1872025. According to Director, the court held that political parties registered in Nigeria have no legal authority to establish, operate or supervise chapters outside the country. He said the judgment described such diaspora chapters as illegal and unconstitutional. The judgment text was not provided, and the account of its findings is the party’s description. Director said all previous recognition of the NDC’s foreign-based chapters had been withdrawn. He also said the party appreciated the support, loyalty and contributions of its members abroad, and encouraged supporters to continue meeting and interacting through appropriate legal channels. The party has begun a harmonisation process...