Politics
NBA Cautions Lawyers Against Involvement in Political Party Disputes
The association cited Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which it said restricts courts from entertaining suits relating to the internal affairs of political parties, warning that such actions could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Photo: NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN) | Credit: NBA (X).
The President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN) on Friday cautioned lawyers and courts against involvement in the internal affairs of political parties.
The association cited Section 83 of the Electoral Act, which it said restricts courts from entertaining suits relating to the internal affairs of political parties, warning that such actions could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Osigwe, in a statement said that the NBA had observed a growing trend of litigation aimed at drawing courts into intra-party disputes, despite clear statutory provisions limiting judicial intervention in such matters.
Osigwe emphasised that the recent political and legal developments arising from the interpretation of the Electoral Act 2022 raise serious constitutional and rule-of-law concerns.
Osigwe further noted that the law also prohibits courts from granting interim or interlocutory injunctions in such disputes.
The statement read in part, “Where any action is brought in negation of this provision, no interim or interlocutory injunction shall be entertained by the Court, but the Court shall suspend its ruling and deliver it at the stage of final judgment and shall give accelerated hearing to the matter.”
The NBA expressed concern that, contrary to these provisions, courts have continued to entertain such cases, sometimes issuing orders that affect party leadership contests and internal governance structures.
It also accused some lawyers of filing suits aimed at securing judicial intervention in political disputes through forum shopping and what it described as “mala fide applications” to obtain favourable orders.“
This emerging trend of subverting the clear letters of the Electoral Act and dragging courts into the internal affairs of political parties through disingenuous litigation, forum shopping, and mala fide applications designed to secure undemocratic political advantage does no good for our democracy,” the association said.
The NBA warned that continued judicial involvement in such matters could turn court processes into instruments of political manipulation.
It stressed that the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act were designed to prevent abuse of court processes and preserve the integrity of internal party democracy.
The association also reminded legal practitioners of their professional responsibilities, stating that lawyers must not act as political agents in pursuit of partisan outcomes.“The filing of actions intended to draw courts into internal political party disputes, particularly where jurisdiction is expressly excluded, constitutes an abuse of court process and a violation of professional responsibility,” it said.
The NBA warned that it would initiate disciplinary action against any lawyer found to have violated these provisions.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the nationwide display of the preliminary register of voters and the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) today, Friday, October 9, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The seven-day exercise, which runs until October 15, will take place simultaneously across registration areas and wards in all states. It allows registered voters to verify their details on the register, raise claims or objections, and collect PVCs from the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) conducted between August and December 2025. Collection hours are from 9am to 3pm daily, including weekends.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, confirmed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters now stands at over 103 million following the completion of the three-phase CVR exercise and a final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup. The exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations.
Phase 1 PVCs have already been processed and distributed to local government collection centres. After the seven-day ward-level exercise, further collection will continue at INEC Local Government Area offices. The commission stressed that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy, in line with the Electoral Act.
The display of the preliminary register is required under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates INEC to exhibit the voter register not less than 90 days before the general elections.
Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
INEC has urged eligible voters to check their status online via its voter verification portal and to collect their cards promptly to avoid disenfranchisement.
The Igueben Local Government Chairman allegedly led a team of gun-toting assailants in an attack on the entourage of Kenneth Imasuangbon and Edo Central ADC Senatorial candidate Hon. Herbeta Okonofua on Tuesday.
According to a statement by ADC State Publicity Secretary Chris Ojeikere, the attackers opened fire at the premises of the Enogie of Igueben, fatally shooting Jerry Oliha, a young man from ADC Ward 6. Oliha was rushed to Irrua Specialist Hospital, where doctors are fighting to save his life.
Jerry Oliha ward six Ebelle I given local government area. He’s a widower with five children
The shooting marks the third attack on the same entourage in a single day. Earlier incidents were reported at Ward 4 and Ward 5 of the local government area.
Ojeikere described the assault as the climax of a series of violent attacks on ADC members and infrastructure, linking them to threats allegedly made by Jarrett Tenebe.
Similar coordinated attacks, he said, had earlier been reported in Etsako East, Owan West, and Owan East, each purportedly directed by the respective local government chairmen.
Bullet casings recovered from the scene have been handed over to the police and the Enogie. Canopies, chairs, and musical instruments valued at millions of naira were destroyed at the palace premises.
The Divisional Police Officer of Igueben Local Government Area has been informed and is involved in the investigation. ADC said it would release a comprehensive report on the incidents shortly.
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike,says that he thinks about President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in January 2027 every time he sleeps.
Wike shared his emotions during a town hall meetings with the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Monday.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s re-election. When I am eating, I think about the president’s re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s re-election,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor said he was committed to ensuring Tinubu secured a second term in office and urged residents of the state to vote massively for the president in the 2027 election.
“Let us forget sentiment and vote for the person who has recognised the people of Rivers State with dividends of democracy and with several appointments.
“I know the re-election of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier than that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure he gets a massive number of votes. We can do it.” Said Wike.
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