INTRODUCTION:

It’s trite law that some judgements were given “per incurium.” My warm review is on the judgement given by Lord Rhodes-Vivour (JSC) in the foregoing case. Among the ratio “decidendi” of the case is that “no court can question the internal affairs of a political party. However, it was stated, relying on the foregoing case that every candidate, dissatisfied with his disqualification by his respective political party has no remedy than to seek his ambition at another political party. In July or so, Obaseki was disqualified by the Non-working committee of the APC and a lot of opinions were laid down, setting precedent with the aforementioned case by legal practitioners and law students respectively. I will first of all examine the decision of the supreme court in the aforementioned case – SULAIMAN ALUYI LERE V APC 2020 (1) NWLR (PT.1705).

THE CASE REVIEW:

I will first and foremost, start by highlighting the supremacy of the constitution which is very paramount. It’s Cristal clear that every law derives its validity from the constitution. The constitution is supreme, and any law that seeks to compete with the constitution shall be void. The constitution provides thus:

“1(1) This constitution is supreme and its provision shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

(3) if any law is inconsistent with the constitution, this constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.”

Equally, both the elections and political parties were regulated by the Constitution and the Electoral Act respectively. In respect to the political parties, political parties were regulated by the provision of part III-D, section 221 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended). Equally, the Electoral Act which the primary aim for its enactment is to regulate the conduct of election and political party affair, was enacted subject to the provision of section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Section 4 provides that:

” The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for peace, order and good government of the federal republic or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the exclusive legislative list set out in part I of the second schedule of this constitution.

 

4(4) In addition and without prejudice to the powers conferred by subsection 2 of this section, the National Assembly shall have power to make laws with respect to the following matters, that is to say-

 

(A) Any matter in the concurrent legislative list set out in the first column of partII of  the second schedule of this constitution to the extent prescribed in the secondcolumn opposite thereto; and

 

(B) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provision of this constitution.”

 

Equally, it was purported that the APC’s constitution bars a court from adjudicating the internal affairs of the political party. However, the provision of section 4(8) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear, it provides that:

“Save as otherwise provided by the provision of this constitution, the exercise of of legislative powers by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly shall be subject to the jurisdiction of courts if law and of the judicial tribunals established by law, and accordingly, the National Assembly or House of Assembly shall not enact any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of a court of law or of any tribunal established by law.”

By and large, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides in section 6(6) (a) that:

” The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section-

(A) shall extend, notwithstanding anything contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law

(B) shall extend to all matters between persons , or between government or authority and to any person in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil Rights and obligation of that person.”

 

However, the language of the foregoing provision of the law is very clear and precise

Equally, the purported provision of the APC’S constitution that ousts the jurisdiction of a court of law is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution and therefore, null and void to the extent of the inconsistency. Equally, the National Assembly as well as the House of Assembly were not empowered to make laws that will rob the jurisdiction of the courts or tribunals established by law. Therefore, no man or body can make regulations nor any contract that will oust the jurisdiction of courts. Therefore, the purported provision of the APC’S constitution has no leg to stand but a mere white sheet.

 

Equally, professor Sagay stated in his book – “The Nigerian Law of Contract that:

” Any provision in any agreement which is purported to derive the parties of their

rights to resort to court for settlement of any dispute arising out of the

agreement, is void on the ground of public policy.”

 

Furthermore, it’s also repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience and also, contrary to the provision of section 36 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria (as amended).

 

Also, Lord Denning held in the common law case of LEE V SHOWMEN’S GUILT OF GREAT BRITAIN that:-

“… The well known principle of law that parties cannot contract to oust the ordinary

jurisdiction of courts… They can, of course agree to leave the question of law as

well as the question of fact to the decision of domestic tribunals, they can indeed

make the tribunal the final arbitar but they can’t prevent its decision being examined

by the courts if parties should seek by agreement to take the law out of the hands

of the courts, and put it in the hands of a private tribunal without any recourse at all

to the courts in case of any error, then the agreement is to that extent contrary to

public policy and void.”

In nutshell, the ruling of the court in the aforementioned case has left many questions unanswered: how did the supreme court come to conclusion by abstaining courts from dabbling at the internal affairs of a political party, knowing fully well that the supremacy of the constitution is very paramount?

FOOTNOTES:

* The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended)

* Common law case of LEE V SHOWMEN’S GUILT OF GREAT BRITAIN. The Electoral Act

* The Nigerian Law of Contract: Sagay. ISBN 0421304200 (paperback).

* APC’s Constitution.

 

About the author

Muhammad Mujahid Musa

* 200level law student at Usman Danfodio University Sokoto with the registration number 1810500008.

I can be reached through:

Tell: +2349030834295

Email: [email protected].