The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly warned against the increasing involvement of courts and legal practitioners in the internal disputes of political parties, describing the trend as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Friday, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) expressed concern over the rising number of lawsuits designed to pull the judiciary into intra-party conflicts, despite explicit legal restrictions in the Electoral Act 2022.
The association highlighted Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which bars courts from entertaining suits on political parties’ internal matters and prohibits the granting of interim or interlocutory injunctions in such cases.
Any rulings on these matters must be reserved for final judgment, with accelerated hearing.
“Recent political and legal developments arising from the interpretation of the Electoral Act 2022 raise serious constitutional and rule-of-law concerns,” the statement read.
The NBA criticised some lawyers for engaging in “forum shopping” and filing “mala fide applications” to obtain favourable court orders that interfere with party leadership and governance.
It warned that such actions turn the judiciary into a tool for political manipulation and undermine internal party democracy.
The association reminded legal practitioners of their ethical duties, stating that filing suits to draw courts into prohibited areas amounts to an abuse of court process.
It vowed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against any lawyer found violating these rules, including petitions to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The NBA also urged the judiciary to strictly decline jurisdiction in matters expressly excluded by law and called on the National Judicial Council to sanction any judicial officers who grant orders contrary to statutory provisions.
Additionally, the association advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and avoid any perception of political engineering that could weaken democratic pluralism.
This intervention comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with several parties currently grappling with leadership tussles and factional crises.
The NBA emphasised that preserving the integrity of the legal profession and judicial independence is essential for strengthening democracy.
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