According to him, although the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that courts should not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties, exceptions exist where political parties violate provisions of the Electoral Act, party guidelines, or constitutional requirements relating to the nomination of candidates.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said the Federal High Court has the power to entertain cases arising from illegal primary elections conducted by political parties, despite legal restrictions on judicial interference in internal party matters.
Falana stated this in a legal commentary on Monday, May 18, 2026, titled, “The Federal High Court Is Empowered To Exercise Jurisdiction Where A Political Party Has Conducted Illegal Primaries,” where he clarified the circumstances under which aggrieved aspirants can seek redress in court over alleged breaches of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to him, although the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that courts should not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties, exceptions exist where political parties violate provisions of the Electoral Act, party guidelines, or constitutional requirements relating to the nomination of candidates.
