Courts Barred from Intra-Party Disputes, Says Falana

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, stated that Nigerian courts no longer have the power to grant interim or interlocutory injunctions regarding internal affairs of political parties until a final judgment is delivered. This declaration was made in a press statement where he cited provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which significantly limit judicial intervention in intra-party disputes.

Falana warned that cases filed in court concerning internal party matters could attract severe financial penalties, including a minimum cost of 10 million naira against the plaintiff's lawyer who initiates the suit. He explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered to monitor and keep records of political party activities and can request clarification if parties fail to comply with relevant laws.

Additionally, he noted that the law expressly prohibits courts from assuming jurisdiction over disputes involving the internal affairs of political parties, emphasizing the need to discourage frivolous litigation and reduce judicial interference in party administration.