ADC Backs NBA, Insists Courts Have No Role in Party Leadership Disputes

ADC Backs NBA, Insists Courts Have No Role in Party Leadership Disputes

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed its support for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s position, asserting that the judiciary should not interfere in internal disputes within political parties.

In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the NBA’s recent caution against misuse of the courts reinforces ADC’s long-held stance on the limits of judicial intervention in party matters.

According to him, the legal body’s position exposes what he described as ongoing attempts to weaken the leadership headed by David Mark through court actions that do not align with Nigeria’s electoral laws.

Abdullahi argued that the matter at hand should not be treated as genuine litigation but rather as a calculated effort to exploit the legal system for political gain.

He accused certain actors of engaging in tactics, such as filing multiple suits in different courts—commonly known as forum shopping—to create confusion and destabilise the party’s recognised leadership.

He further stressed that any court ruling secured in violation of statutory provisions lacks legitimacy and cannot be used as a basis to alter the structure or leadership of the party.

The ADC spokesman expressed concern that continued recourse to the courts in such matters was creating unnecessary uncertainty, while also undermining established democratic processes within political parties.

He praised the NBA for standing firm in defence of the rule of law and warning legal practitioners against actions that could erode public confidence in the judiciary. Abdullahi noted that the association’s call for disciplinary action against erring lawyers highlights the gravity of the situation.

The party also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain strict neutrality and avoid taking steps that could be interpreted as endorsing processes inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Abdullahi concluded that the issue goes beyond internal party affairs, describing it as a test of Nigeria’s democratic integrity.

He reaffirmed the ADC’s resolve to pursue lawful avenues in protecting its mandate and upholding democratic principles.