The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has cautioned legal practitioners against instituting court actions relating to the internal affairs of political parties, warning that such conduct could attract sanctions.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, said recent developments surrounding the interpretation of the Electoral Act 2026 have raised serious concerns about constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law.
He explained that Section 83 of the Act clearly bars courts from entertaining cases involving the internal matters of political parties. According to him, despite this provision, some lawyers continue to file suits and obtain interim or interlocutory orders in violation of the law.
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“What we now see are situations where actions are instituted in courts by lawyers in clear violation of the Act, and courts grant orders in contempt of statutory provisions,” he said.
Osigwe warned that such practices could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that the judiciary must not be drawn into political disputes that are expressly prohibited by law.
Call for Sanctions Against Erring Judges, Lawyers
The NBA also urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take disciplinary action against judges who assume jurisdiction in matters they are legally barred from handling.
The association maintained that lawyers are “ministers in the temple of justice” and not political agents seeking to use the courts to advance partisan interests.
It added that filing cases intended to drag courts into intra-party conflicts amounts to an abuse of court process and a breach of professional ethics.
The NBA warned that it would not hesitate to petition the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against any lawyer found engaging in such conduct.
Concern over Political Party Disputes
The warning follows ongoing internal crises within some opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The situation was further heightened after the Independent National Electoral Commission recently withdrew recognition of factions within the ADC leadership after reviewing a court of appeal judgment.
The NBA emphasised that courts must exercise restraint and strictly adhere to the law, noting that judicial processes should not be used as tools for political manipulation or score-settling.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
