The South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mabel Oboh, has warned that allowing the judiciary to become the effective administrator of political party affairs could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democratic development.
Oboh gave the warning while reacting to a recent Court of Appeal judgment that restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising state congresses conducted under the authority of the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST, the party spokesperson said the judgment had reignited debate over the extent of judicial intervention in the internal affairs of political parties.
She maintained that while judicial oversight remains essential in upholding the rule of law, such intervention should be limited to ensuring compliance with legal provisions rather than assuming responsibility for the administration of political parties.
According to her, the ruling presents an opportunity for a broader national conversation on the constitutional boundaries between judicial oversight and the autonomy of political parties.
Oboh stressed that although the judiciary remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s democracy, courts must exercise restraint when handling issues relating to the internal administration of political parties.
“No democracy can survive without an independent judiciary. Likewise, no political party can flourish if it is denied the right to manage its affairs in accordance with its own constitution. The real challenge is finding the right balance between judicial oversight and party autonomy.
“The legal dispute before the Court of Appeal centred on whether the
