NBA warns against judicial interference in political party affairs

Africa, Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria, 12 April 2026 (NPA) — The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed deep concern over recent political and legal developments ahead of the 2027 General Elections, warning against the misuse of courts in matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties.

In a statement issued on Friday, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, noted that the association has closely monitored the interpretation and potential application of provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. He stressed that Section 83 of the Act explicitly bars courts from entertaining suits or granting interim injunctions in matters concerning political party affairs.

“What we now see are situations where actions are instituted in courts by lawyers in clear violation of the Act, and courts purportedly grant interim or interlocutory injunctions in contempt of statutory provisions. This does not augur well for our democracy,” Osigwe said. He warned that such practices risk turning judicial processes into tools for political score‑settling and electoral manipulation.

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The NBA emphasized that the provisions of the Electoral Act were designed to curb abuse of court processes and discourage forum shopping in political disputes. It cautioned that selective or manipulative application of these provisions could undermine democratic competition and shrink the political space.

Osigwe reminded members of the Bar that they are “Ministers in the Temple of Justice and not political agents seeking judicial endorsement of partisan objectives.” He warned that lawyers who deliberately file actions aimed at drawing courts into intra‑party disputes, or who seek ex parte or interlocutory orders in violation of the law, risk disciplinary proceedings. The NBA pledged to petition the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against any practitioner found guilty of such conduct.

The association also urged the judiciary to remain vigilant and resist being drawn into political theatrics. “Courts should firmly decline invitations, no matter how artfully crafted, to intervene in matters the law explicitly bars them from,” the statement concluded.