The Nigerian Bar Association has cautioned lawyers against filing court applications related to the internal affairs of political parties, warning that such actions could attract disciplinary sanctions.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NBA—through its president, Afam Osigwe—said recent legal actions surrounding the interpretation of the Electoral Act 2026 raise serious concerns for democracy, constitutional order, and the rule of law.
The association referenced Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which prohibits courts from handling cases involving internal party matters. Despite this, the NBA noted that some lawyers continue to file suits and obtain interim or interlocutory orders in violation of the law.
According to the NBA, this trend undermines democracy and risks turning the judiciary into a tool for political manipulation. It warned that practices such as forum shopping and filing misleading applications to gain political advantage must be stopped.
The body stressed that lawyers are “ministers in the temple of justice,” not political agents, and must uphold professional ethics rather than pursue partisan interests.
It also called on the National Judicial Council to discipline judges who knowingly entertain such cases or grant orders in matters clearly barred by law.
Furthermore, the NBA warned that it would not hesitate to report offending lawyers to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), emphasizing that such misconduct constitutes an abuse of court process.
The warning comes amid ongoing internal disputes within political parties such as the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
Recently, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced it would no longer recognise factions of the ADC led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala following a Court of Appeal ruling.
The NBA concluded by urging the judiciary to resist being drawn into political disputes and to strictly adhere to the provisions of the law.
