FCT Court Declares Diaspora Chapters Of Nigerian Political Parties Illegal, Voids APC UK Congress

• FCT High Court declares diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties unconstitutional, illegal and unknown to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying no registered party can establish or operate official structures abroad

• Court nullifies APC’s United Kingdom congress, ruling that no registered political party can establish chapters or conduct congresses outside Nigeria

• Justice Kekemeke orders APC to transfer over ₦30 million realised from the sale of congress forms to INEC after upholding all 14 reliefs sought by the electoral commission

• Court clarifies that Nigerians in the diaspora may support and campaign for candidates but warns that anyone operating, funding or managing diaspora party chapters risks a ₦5 million fine and imprisonment upon conviction

July 15, () — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama has declared diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties unconstitutional and illegal, nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) congress conducted in the United Kingdom, and ordered the transfer of more than ₦30 million generated from the sale of congress forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The landmark judgement, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Peter Kekemeke, also upheld all 14 reliefs sought by INEC and warned that individuals or groups involved in establishing, managing or promoting diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties could face a ₦5 million fine and imprisonment under Nigerian law.

The suit, marked CV/187/2025, was instituted by INEC to challenge the legality of the APC’s United Kingdom Diaspora Chapter and the congress it conducted outside Nigeria.

Justice Kekemeke held that diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties are unknown to the Constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that no political party registered in Nigeria has the constitutional authority to establish, maintain or conduct congresses beyond the country’s territorial boundaries.

The court consequently declared the APC UK congress null and void, affirming that the organisation, administration and internal affairs of political parties registered by INEC must remain within Nigeria.

The judge further ordered the transfer of over ₦30 million realised from the sale of forms for the APC diaspora congress to INEC, agreeing with the electoral commission that the funds were unlawfully collected through an unconstitutional political exercise.

Court Defines Limits Of Diaspora Political Participation

Justice Kekemeke, however, clarified that Nigerians living abroad remain free to support, campaign for and mobilise for their preferred political parties and candidates in Nigeria. He emphasised that such political participation does not extend to establishing official party chapters or conducting congresses outside the country.

According to the court, political parties cannot organise congresses, administer party affairs or create recognised branches for Nigerians residing in the diaspora.

The judge further ruled that any political party, individual or organisation that establishes, operates, sponsors, promotes or associates with a diaspora chapter of a Nigerian political party commits an offence under Nigerian law.

He also held that any person who chairs or manages such a chapter, or solicits membership dues, levies or other financial contributions on its behalf, is liable upon conviction to a fine of ₦5 million and a term of imprisonment.

INEC had argued before the court that the APC’s diaspora congress violated the Constitution, the Electoral Act and other laws regulating the registration and operation of political parties in Nigeria.

The commission maintained that the activities of the APC’s UK chapter fell outside the constitutional and legal framework governing political parties and informed the court of its decision to recover all monies generated from the purported congress, estimated at more than ₦30 million.

Justice Kekemeke granted all 14 reliefs sought by the electoral commission, including five mandatory orders, effectively endorsing INEC’s position that political parties registered in Nigeria cannot lawfully establish or operate official diaspora chapters.