The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has thrown its weight behind the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), affirming that Nigerian courts lack jurisdiction over internal political party affairs, in line with the Electoral Act.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the NBA’s position as a strong validation of its stance amid an ongoing leadership crisis within the party.
“The NBA’s position is clear and unambiguous: courts have no jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties, and any attempt to secure interim or interlocutory orders in such matters is in direct violation of the Electoral Act,” the statement read.
The ADC maintained that the legal actions challenging its leadership amount to an abuse of court processes aimed at achieving political ends rather than resolving a genuine dispute.
“What we are witnessing is not a legitimate legal dispute. It is a coordinated effort to weaponize the judicial process for political ends, a strategy the NBA has rightly described as an abuse of court process,” the party said.
This development follows a strong warning issued by the NBA on Friday against judicial interference in party matters, citing Section 83 of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits courts from entertaining such suits or granting interim injunctions.
The ADC urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and refrain from legitimising what it called unlawful court orders.
“INEC must remain a neutral arbiter, not a participant in political engineering,” the party warned, adding that any orders obtained in violation of the law “are fundamentally defective and cannot stand.”
The party commended the NBA for its firm stand in defence of the rule of law and warned that continued manipulation of judicial processes could undermine Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to defending its leadership through lawful means and protecting the integrity of the democratic process.
The statement comes as a Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 14 to hear a suit challenging the leadership of the ADC.
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