A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has declared the United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress illegal.
The court also ruled that diaspora chapters operated by Nigerian political parties have no legal backing under the country’s constitution.
Justice Peter Kekemeke, while delivering the judgment on Wednesday also invalidated the APC congress conducted in the United Kingdom, bringing to an end a legal dispute over whether Nigerian political parties can establish and operate branches outside the country.
The case was instituted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a suit marked CV/187/2025.
It will be recalled that INEC had asked the court to determine the legality of the APC’s UK chapter and the congress conducted by the group.
The judge, in his decision, held that the Nigerian Constitution and existing electoral laws do not recognise diaspora chapters of political parties registered in the country.
According to him, no political party has the authority to establish, maintain or conduct official party activities beyond Nigeria’s territorial boundaries.
The court ruled that while Nigerians living abroad are free to support political candidates and participate in political discussions relating to their country, political parties themselves cannot legally create formal structures or chapters outside Nigeria.
The judge held that any congress, meeting or official activity conducted under the platform of a diaspora chapter lacks constitutional validity. The court therefore nullified the APC UK congress and all actions arising from it.
Justice Kekemeke further held that political parties are not empowered to organise congresses for members residing outside Nigeria.
He said the constitution clearly defines the framework within which political parties can operate and does not provide room for the establishment of overseas chapters.
