ADC Hails NBA Intervention, Urges INEC To Stay Neutral In Party Leadership Dispute

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in its ongoing leadership dispute, saying the legal body’s position confirms the party’s long-held claims that the law is being breached.

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In a press statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the NBA’s warning against abuse of court processes and forum shopping validates its argument that attempts to challenge its leadership in court are legally flawed.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the timely and principled intervention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the ongoing attempts to subvert the lawful leadership of our party through judicial manipulation,” the statement read.

The party stressed that the NBA had made it clear that courts lack jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties and that seeking interim or interlocutory orders in such matters violates the Electoral Act.

“This is precisely what the ADC has consistently maintained. What we are witnessing is not a legitimate legal dispute. It is a coordinated effort to weaponise the judicial process for political ends, a strategy the NBA has rightly described as an abuse of court process, driven by forum shopping and malicious litigation,”

the party said.

The ADC linked the dispute to wider political tensions, claiming the situation reflects “deeper political anxiety within the ruling party” amid insecurity, economic hardship and declining public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party also warned that any orders obtained in violation of the law would remain defective and unsustainable.

While commending the NBA for calling for disciplinary action against erring legal practitioners and judicial officers, the ADC urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid steps that could legitimise what it described as unlawful judicial interference.

“INEC must remain a neutral arbiter, not a participant in political engineering,” he said.

The party added that the issue extends beyond its internal dispute and concerns the integrity of democracy in Nigeria, pledging to pursue lawful means to defend its mandate.