The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern about what it calls an increase in judicial interference in the internal affairs of political parties. It warns that this trend could threaten Nigeria’s democracy before the 2027 general elections.
The association said in a statement from its president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, that it had been keeping an eye on recent political and legal events, especially those related to how the Electoral Act 2026 is read and used.
The NBA pointed to Section 83 of the Act, which says that courts can’t hear cases about the internal affairs of political parties. They also said that the law says that courts can’t issue temporary or interlocutory injunctions in these kinds of cases.
It was worried that some lawyers still file lawsuits over disagreements within the party, even though these rules are in place. It also said that courts are giving orders that go against the law.
The group says that these kinds of actions weaken the rule of law and could make the courts a tool for political manipulation and “electoral advantage.”
The statement said, “This new trend of breaking the clear rules of the Electoral Act and getting courts involved in the internal affairs of political parties through dishonest lawsuits, forum shopping, and bad faith applications meant to gain undemocratic political advantage is not good for our democracy.”
The NBA said it would punish lawyers who did this by filing petitions with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
It also told the courts to be careful and not get involved in political fights that are clearly against the law, and it told judges to follow the law exactly.
The NBA told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay neutral and not do anything that could hurt political pluralism or people’s trust in the electoral process.
It said that the INEC chairman, being a legal expert, should uphold constitutional principles and make sure that the commission’s actions support democratic norms.
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