The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned lawyers against filing court cases that seek to involve the judiciary in internal disputes of political parties, stating that such actions undermine democratic processes.
In a statement issued on Friday by its President, Afam Osigwe, the NBA expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of legal practitioners and courts interfering in party matters despite clear provisions in the Electoral Act 2026.
The association cited Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which it said prohibits courts from entertaining cases relating to the internal affairs of political parties, including granting interim or interlocutory injunctions on such issues.
According to the NBA, some lawyers have continued to file such cases in court, while some judicial officers have also issued orders that contradict statutory restrictions, a development it described as harmful to democracy.
The association warned that this practice could turn the judiciary into a tool for political manipulation and urged legal practitioners to avoid actions that amount to abuse of court process.
It also stated that lawyers who engage in such conduct risk disciplinary action before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
Furthermore, the NBA called on the judiciary to resist being drawn into politically motivated disputes and urged the National Judicial Council to sanction judges who act contrary to the law in such cases.
The association also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and avoid being seen as influencing political outcomes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
