NBA Warns of Judicial Interference in Party Affairs Before 2027 Polls

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Bar Association warned on Friday of escalating judicial interference in the internal affairs of political parties, vowing to pursue disciplinary action against lawyers and judges who violate provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the association expressed alarm over recent legal actions that it said undermine the rule of law and democratic processes. The NBA highlighted Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which explicitly bars courts from assuming jurisdiction over intraparty disputes and prohibits the issuance of interim or interlocutory injunctions in such cases. Even if a suit is filed in violation of the law, courts must suspend rulings until final judgment and provide an accelerated hearing, the provision states.

Osigwe noted that despite these safeguards, some lawyers have continued to institute actions designed to draw courts into party matters, with certain judges granting orders contrary to the statute. "What we now see are situations where actions are not only instituted in courts by lawyers in clear...