ADC bars state chapters from engaging lawyers on behalf of party

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has directed all its state chapters and officials nationwide to immediately stop engaging lawyers concerning party issues without prior written approval from the national headquarters. The state chapters have also been asked to always refer any court processes served on the party to the National Legal Adviser, warning that “no […]

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has directed all its state chapters and officials nationwide to immediately stop engaging lawyers concerning party issues without prior written approval from the national headquarters.

The state chapters have also been asked to always refer any court processes served on the party to the National Legal Adviser, warning that “no state chapter or officer has the authority to receive legal service on behalf of the party.” 

This was made known by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the party in a statement on Wednesday. 

Abdullahi in a public notice stressed that only the National Legal Adviser is constitutionally empowered to instruct legal practitioners or represent the party in legal proceedings, adding that violations of the directive could attract disciplinary action under the party’s constitution.

 

He said,”For the avoidance of doubt and in accordance with the Constitution of the African Democratic Congress, only the National Legal Adviser of the Party is authorised to issue letters of instruction to any legal practitioner to represent , act for, or take steps on behalf of the Party in any court, tribunal, arbitration, administrative proceeding or other legal process.”

 

The party further stressed that all State Chapters, Executive Committee Members, Officers especially State Legal Advisers, members and representatives of the Party are hereby directed “not to receive, accept, acknowledge, or take custody of any court process purportedly served on the Party at any State Chapter, State Secretariat, local office or through any state officer of the Party.

 

ADC said in the event that a court process was served on any State Chapter, “vide substituted means,  pursuant to an order of the court, such process should be transmitted vide electronic medium to the National Legal Adviser immediately.