A civil society organisation, Registered Trustees of Constitutional and Democratic Justice Initiative, has instituted a suit against the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation over provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, which it says are unconstitutional.
The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, seeks an order nullifying Sections 83(5) and 86(6)(b) of the Act for allegedly ousting the jurisdiction of courts in matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties.
It follows the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, by the National Assembly, which introduced fresh provisions barring courts from entertaining suits relating to the internal affairs of political parties.
Section 83 of the Act, which also empowers INEC to monitor political parties and seek explanations over their activities, is at the centre of the legal challenge.
The Director of the organisation, Prof A. O. Sambo, said in a statement issued on Saturday that the National Assembly exceeded its constitutional powers by enacting the disputed provisions.
