The Nigerian Bar Association has warned lawyers and judges against interfering in the internal affairs of political parties, saying such actions could weaken Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) said the association was concerned by what it described as a growing trend of politically motivated litigation aimed at dragging courts into disputes over party leadership and internal governance.
The NBA said Section 83 of the Electoral Act 2022 clearly limits judicial involvement in such matters and bars courts from granting interim or interlocutory injunctions in cases relating to party affairs. Instead, it said courts are required to reserve decisions until final judgment while ensuring accelerated hearings.
According to the association, some lawyers have continued to file suits designed to secure favourable political outcomes through forum shopping and what it called bad-faith applications.
It warned that such practices amount to an abuse of court process and undermine the rule of law. The NBA stressed that lawyers must uphold professional ethics rather than act as agents for partisan interests.
The body said it would not hesitate to petition the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against any lawyer found to be violating the law in this regard.
It also urged the judiciary to resist political pressure and decline jurisdiction in matters expressly barred by law, while calling on the National Judicial Council to sanction judges who issue orders contrary to statutory provisions.
The NBA further advised the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain neutral and avoid actions that could create the impression of political interference.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the integrity of the legal profession, the NBA said it would continue to deploy lawful means to curb abuse of judicial processes in political disputes.
