•Nigerian lawyers
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned lawyers against instituting court actions aimed at drawing the judiciary into internal disputes within political parties, vowing to impose disciplinary sanctions on erring practitioners.
The association, in a statement issued today, expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of legal practitioners and courts becoming entangled in intra-party affairs despite clear statutory prohibitions.
Citing section 83 of the Electoral Act 2026, it said, “No court in Nigeria shall entertain jurisdiction over any suit or matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party,” emphasising that courts lack jurisdiction to entertain matters relating to the internal workings of political parties.
It further explained that courts are also restricted from issuing interim or interlocutory orders in such matters.
“Not only are courts denied jurisdiction to entertain any matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party, but they are also precluded from granting any interim or interlocutory injunction even where any action has been brought in violation of the Act,” the statement said.
According to the association, the persistence of such suits amounts to an abuse of court process and poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“The filing of actions intended to draw courts into internal political party disputes… constitutes a violation of professional responsibility,” the NBA stated, warning that lawyers found culpable would face disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
Reiterating its position, the NBA reminded members of the Bar of their ethical obligations, stressing that lawyers must not act as political agents seeking judicial endorsement for partisan interests.
It decried what it termed “disingenuous litigation, forum shopping, and malafide applications” designed to secure political advantage, noting that such practices undermine the rule of law and erode public confidence in the judiciary.
The association declared its readiness to invoke disciplinary mechanisms against any legal practitioner who violates the law, insisting that the integrity of the justice system must be preserved at all times.
The NBA also called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take decisive action against judicial officers who assume jurisdiction in matters expressly barred by law.
It urged the council to establish strict regulations to sanction judges who grant orders in intra-party disputes in violation of statutory provisions, warning that such actions risk turning the courts into tools for political manoeuvring.
The association further pledged to report any judicial officer found to have acted inconsistently with constitutional responsibilities or the judicial oath.
In addition, the NBA charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exercise its supervisory powers with neutrality and independence as the 2027 general elections approach.
It urged the INEC Chairman, to ensure that the commission’s actions uphold democratic principles and do not give the impression of political interference.
“The Commission must not, under any circumstances, be perceived as a participant in political engineering,” the statement noted, adding that its role should strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Osigwe, maintained that the association would deploy all lawful mechanisms, including disciplinary measures, to prevent the misuse of the legal system for political purposes.
He stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must be protected from legal manipulation, insisting that courts must remain impartial arbiters of justice while electoral institutions function as neutral umpires.
