The African Democratic Congress (ADC) said the position of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party matters, validates its stand in its ongoing leadership dispute. The NBA, had in a statement, said courts had no jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties, warning that any attempt to secure interim or interlocutory orders in such matters is a violation of the Electoral Act.
ADC, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said this aligns with its position, arguing that its travail was not a legitimate legal dispute but a coordinated effort to weaponise the judicial process for political ends.
It accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plot to weaken viable opposition parties because of the fear of defeat as a result of its failures According to the party, any orders procured in violation of the law, and any actions taken on the strength of such orders, would be defective and cannot stand.
ADC expressed worry that despite clear legal provisions, certain actors have continued to drag the courts into matters explicitly barred by statute, while others have sought to exploit such processes to create confusion around the leadership of our party.
“We commend the NBA for its courage in calling out these practices and for reaffirming the foundational principle that the rule of law must not be subordinated to political expediency,” the party stated.
ADC said the NBA’s warning to legal practitioners and judicial officers, and its call for disciplinary action against those who deliberately undermine the law, showed the seriousness of the violations currently at play.
The party therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take immediate cognisance of the NBA’s position and refrain from any action that might lend credibility to processes that are clearly inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
“INEC must remain a neutral arbiter, not a participant in political engineering. “Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive a system where laws are ignored, institutions are pressured, and judicial processes are manipulated to achieve predetermined political outcomes,” it added.
