ADC tightens control over party litigation, directs state chapters to refer court processes to secretariat

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has directed all its state chapters and officials, across the country, to refer all  court processes served on the party to the National Legal Adviser.

The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that no state chapter or officer has the authority to receive legal service on behalf of the party or engage lawyers without prior written approval from the national secretariat.

The party noted that “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.

“Accordingly, 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.”

It added that”members and officers of the Party are further reminded that no State Chapter, State Legal Adviser, State Executive Committee member, or any other state-level officer has authority to engage counsel, issue instructions, file processes, enter appearance, concede claims, compromise proceedings, or otherwise represent the legal position of the Party without the express written authority of the National Legal Adviser.

“Consequently, any purported service of court processes on any state chapter or state officer of the Party shall not be treated as a valid service on the African Democratic Congress.

“All such processes must be referred immediately to the National Legal Adviser at the Party’s National Headquarters in Abuja for appropriate action. 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.

“The leadership of the party expects strict compliance with this directive. Any unauthorised engagement of legal practitioners or handling of court processes in the name of the Party may expose the affected officer or chapter to disciplinary measures in accordance with the Party Constitution and other applicable rules.”