A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has declared the United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) illegal, ruling that Nigerian political parties have no constitutional authority to establish or operate official diaspora chapters.
Justice Peter Kekemeke delivered the landmark judgment on Wednesday, nullifying the APC congress held in the United Kingdom and bringing to a close a legal battle over the legality of overseas chapters operated by Nigerian political parties.
The suit, marked CV/187/2025, was filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which asked the court to determine whether the APC UK chapter and its congress were recognised under Nigeria's Constitution and electoral laws.
In his ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the Electoral Act provides legal backing for political parties to establish, maintain or conduct official activities outside the country's territorial boundaries.
The court ruled that while Nigerians residing abroad are free to support political candidates and engage in political discussions concerning Nigeria, registered political parties cannot legally create formal structures or chapters in foreign countries.
According to the judgment, any congress, meeting or official activity conducted under the platform of a diaspora chapter lacks constitutional validity. Consequently, the court declared the APC UK congress null and void, including all decisions and actions arising from it.
Justice Kekemeke further ruled that political parties are not empowered to organise congresses for members living outside Nigeria, stressing that the Constitution clearly outlines the operational framework for political parties without making provisions for overseas chapters.
The judge also warned that any political party, organisation or individual involved in establishing, sponsoring or promoting diaspora chapters of Nigerian political parties acts outside the law.
He added that individuals who administer such chapters, particularly those responsible for collecting membership dues, levies or other financial contributions, could face legal sanctions, including fines and possible imprisonment.
In a significant aspect of the judgment, the court ordered that more than N30 million generated from the sale of nomination forms connected to the APC UK congress be transferred to INEC.
INEC had argued that the congress and related activities conducted by the APC UK chapter violated Nigeria's constitutional and legal framework governing political parties. The commission also maintained that it was entitled to recover funds realised through what it described as an unlawful process.
According to INEC, the proceeds from the congress exceeded N30 million, prompting the commission to seek court orders directing the recovery of the money.
Justice Kekemeke granted all 14 reliefs sought by INEC, including mandatory orders compelling the transfer of the funds and affirming that the APC UK chapter had no legal standing.
The judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigerian political parties that maintain diaspora structures for mobilisation, fundraising and political coordination among citizens living abroad.
For years, several political parties have operated overseas networks to engage Nigerians in the diaspora. However, the court's decision has now established that while diaspora supporters may participate in political advocacy, such groups cannot function as officially recognised chapters of political parties registered in Nigeria.