Abuja, NIGERIA – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a stern warning to legal practitioners and judges against interfering in the internal affairs of political parties, labeling recent court interventions as a threat to the nation’s democracy.
Okay News reports that in a statement released on Friday, April 10, 2026, the NBA expressed deep concern over the rising trend of “disingenuous litigation” and “forum shopping” as the 2027 general elections approach. The association specifically cited Section 83 of the Electoral Act 2026, which expressly strips courts of jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties.
The NBA noted that despite clear statutory prohibitions, some lawyers continue to file suits, and some courts continue to grant interim or interlocutory injunctions regarding intra-party disputes. The Act mandates that even if such cases are brought before a court, the judge must suspend any ruling on injunctions until the final judgment to avoid disrupting political processes.
“Democracy will not thrive in a situation where lawyers and courts take actions and decisions that not only negate our laws but also do violence to them,” the statement read. The association warned that these practices risk transforming the judiciary into an avenue for “political score-settling or electoral manipulation.”
Vowing to take decisive action, the NBA announced that any lawyer found filing such “malafide” applications or seeking unauthorized injunctions will face disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). The body further urged the judiciary to remain vigilant and firmly decline any invitations to intervene in matters where the law has explicitly barred their jurisdiction.
