2027: NBA Kaduna Pushes for Peaceful, Lawful Electoral Process

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kaduna Branch, has urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to resolve electoral disputes through lawful mechanisms rather than resorting to violence, intimidation, or self-help ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The branch also called for measures to ensure that insecurity does not disenfranchise eligible voters or prevent electoral officials from carrying out their duties in affected communities.

NBA Kaduna Branch Chairman, Mr Baba Aliyu, made the call while outlining potential legal challenges in the electoral process and the role lawyers can play in promoting peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections.

Potential Sources of Electoral Litigation

Aliyu identified several issues likely to trigger litigation, including disputes arising from political party primaries and candidate nominations, non-compliance with electoral regulations, voter intimidation, vote buying, electoral violence, and interference with electoral materials. He also flagged disputes over the conduct, collation, and declaration of election results as potential areas of concern.

According to him, Kaduna's existing security challenges make it especially important for relevant authorities to protect voters, electoral officials, and election materials. "The right of citizens to participate in elections must be protected, and insecurity should not automatically translate into disenfranchisement," he said.

The NBA chairman stressed the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, community leaders, and other stakeholders to work together to ensure eligible citizens can exercise their franchise safely. He also called for inclusive electoral arrangements that accommodate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable communities.

Compliance with Electoral Law Emphasised

Aliyu urged political parties and candidates to familiarise themselves with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, INEC regulations and guidelines, and the applicable electoral timetable. He advised parties to ensure their primaries, nomination processes, campaign activities, financing, and appointment of agents comply with the relevant legal framework, while urging political actors and their supporters to avoid violence, inflammatory conduct, vote buying, and other prohibited activities.

"It is much better to obtain legal advice before taking an action than to attempt to repair the consequences through litigation afterwards," Aliyu said, recommending that political parties engage competent legal advisers throughout the electoral process.

He explained that the Electoral Act 2026 introduced changes to certain aspects of electoral litigation, including greater emphasis on resolving qualification issues before elections take place — a development he said makes early legal compliance and timely legal advice particularly important for political parties and candidates.

Guidance on Reporting Electoral Offences

On access to justice, Aliyu urged citizens whose electoral rights have been violated to document incidents where it is safe to do so, and report them promptly through appropriate electoral, security, or law-enforcement channels. He advised citizens to preserve relevant evidence while avoiding risks that could endanger their lives in the process.

"Do not resort to self-help. Document the complaint, preserve whatever evidence can safely be preserved, and take it to the institution with the appropriate jurisdiction," he advised.

The NBA chairman called for collaboration between the Kaduna branch of the association, INEC, civil society organisations, the media, and community leaders to provide public legal education and referral mechanisms for citizens. He also suggested offering pro bono legal assistance to vulnerable persons where appropriate, noting that the Legal Aid Council and other legal assistance organisations could support citizens depending on the nature of their complaints.

Lawyers' Civic Role in Elections

Aliyu said lawyers carry a civic responsibility to strengthen democratic governance by educating citizens on electoral laws, rights, and responsibilities — without endorsing any political party or candidate. "The NBA should educate, not campaign for any political party or candidate. Our objective is to strengthen respect for the rule of law, informed participation and peaceful democratic engagement," he said.

He advocated establishing a clear and accessible reporting chain involving INEC, security agencies, and other competent authorities to enable citizens to report suspected electoral offences promptly. He further urged political parties to ensure their accredited agents understand the procedures for recording and reporting irregularities through appropriate channels, stressing that allegations of electoral offences should be properly reported, investigated, and, where appropriate, prosecuted — rather than used as grounds for retaliation or violence.

"Elections Are Contests, Not Wars"

"Elections are contests, not wars," Aliyu said, urging political actors to respect the institutions established to conduct and adjudicate elections. He noted that candidates and political parties retain the right to challenge electoral decisions where they believe the law has been violated, but insisted that such challenges must be pursued through appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms.

The chairman advised political actors to resist violence, threats, destruction of property, and intimidation when dissatisfied with electoral outcomes, noting that the election petition process provides a legitimate legal avenue for resolving disputes. "Where there is a genuine grievance, the courtroom, not the street, is the appropriate place to seek redress," he said.

Aliyu reaffirmed the NBA Kaduna branch's commitment to a peaceful, credible, inclusive, and lawful electoral process, stressing that the association holds no partisan interest in the outcome of any election. He said the branch's priority is to ensure eligible citizens can participate freely, political actors comply with the rules, electoral institutions perform their responsibilities professionally, and genuine disputes are resolved through lawful mechanisms — adding that promoting respect for the rule of law and discouraging violence and self-help would help strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.