The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a stern warning to legal practitioners, cautioning that any lawyer who files ex parte applications or seeks interlocutory injunctions in matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties could face disciplinary action.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the association expressed deep concern over what it described as troubling recent developments surrounding the interpretation and application of the Electoral Act 2026. According to the NBA, these developments pose significant threats to constitutional order, democratic principles, and the rule of law, and therefore demand urgent attention.
The statement, signed by NBA President Afam Osigwe, emphasised that Section 83 of the Electoral Act clearly restricts judicial intervention in disputes concerning the internal workings of political parties. The provision, the association noted, explicitly bars courts from entertaining such matters, underscoring the autonomy of political parties in managing their own affairs without undue external interference.
Expanding on its position, the NBA warned that attempts by lawyers to circumvent this legal boundary—particularly through the use of ex parte motions or interim court orders—undermine both the spirit and the letter of the law. Such actions, it said, not only risk distorting the democratic process but also erode public confidence in the legal system.
The association further stressed that the misuse of judicial processes in political disputes has become increasingly prevalent, raising alarms within the legal community. It reiterated that the courts must not be turned into arenas for settling intra-party conflicts that should ordinarily be resolved through internal mechanisms.
Reaffirming its commitment to upholding professional ethics and the integrity of the legal profession, the NBA made it clear that it would not hesitate to invoke its disciplinary procedures against any lawyer found to be in violation of these principles. It urged practitioners to exercise restraint, adhere strictly to the law, and avoid actions that could bring the profession into disrepute.
