The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a stern warning to lawyers, judges, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against interfering in the internal affairs of political parties as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

The association said democracy is endangered when legal practitioners and courts take actions that contradict existing laws, especially in matters involving party leadership disputes. The warning comes amid controversy surrounding INEC’s removal of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership from its official portal, a move that triggered protests led by former Senate President David Mark and his faction of the party.

INEC said its action followed a Court of Appeal ruling directing parties to maintain the status quo, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also awaiting a Supreme Court decision over its disputed leadership crisis.

NBA President Afam Osigwe condemned the growing trend of courts entertaining cases involving internal party disputes despite Section 83 of the Electoral Act 2026, which bars Nigerian courts from taking jurisdiction over such matters. He stressed that courts are equally prohibited from issuing interim or interlocutory injunctions in those cases.

The NBA warned that any lawyer who files cases aimed at dragging courts into intra-party conflicts risks disciplinary action before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee. It also called on the National Judicial Council to sanction judges who knowingly assume jurisdiction in matters expressly barred by law.

The association further urged Independent National Electoral Commission to exercise its supervisory powers with neutrality and fairness, insisting the commission must not be seen as influencing political outcomes or weakening democratic pluralism.