The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised the rising trend of conflicting court orders in the country, warning that the development undermines public confidence in the judiciary and risks turning the justice system into “a mockery.”
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The President of the Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN, spoke against the backdrop of the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention disputes—where different courts issued opposing directives on the same matter. He described the phenomenon as unacceptable and damaging to the integrity of the legal system.
He questioned how courts could issue contradictory orders on the same issue, noting that such actions create confusion in the polity and cast doubt on the credibility of judicial processes.
The PDP held its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15–16, 2025, to elect new national officers for the party.
Some aggrieved PDP members filed lawsuits, arguing that the convention was being conducted in violation of internal party rules, the Electoral Act, and statutory requirements. Among the complainants were Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
Another high-profile plaintiff was Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State, who claimed he was unfairly prevented from purchasing the nomination form for the party’s national chairman position.
On October 31, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or accepting the outcome of the PDP convention.
A separate but related case filed by Sule Lamido led to another interim injunction from Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Lifu restrained the PDP from proceeding with the convention and barred INEC from supervising or recognising its outcome. His order specifically emphasised that Lamido should be allowed to purchase the nomination form to contest for national chairman.
In contrast, Justice A. L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan issued an interim order allowing the PDP to go ahead with the convention as scheduled. The court restrained the PDP and its officials from truncating or interfering with the party’s timetable, guidelines, and schedule for the convention, and directed INEC to attend, monitor, and observe the process.
Despite the restraining orders from the Abuja courts, the PDP held its convention in Ibadan under heavy security.
Speaking on the issue, NBA President Osigwe queried: “In which country have you heard one court say don’t hold a convention, and another court says do the convention? Which one do you obey?”
He stressed that such orders could be appealed, emphasising that the responsibility lies with the courts to avoid issuing directives that could destabilise political processes or give the impression that justice can be purchased.
“As a bar association, we should say that our courts should be wary of the type of orders they make. They should not issue orders that create confusion in the polity, put the judicial process to wrong use, or give the impression that justice is for the highest bidder. People have courts where they can get favourable decisions,” Osigwe said.
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