A Catholic priest and public affairs commentator, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Benedict E. Ferife , has said the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) brought its current predicament upon itself by disregarding established electoral rules and due process.
Ferife stated this in an opinion article titled, “NDC’s Self-Inflicted Wounds: Why Due Process Matters in Democracy,” where he argued that democracy can only flourish when political parties strictly adhere to constitutional provisions, electoral laws and internal democratic principles.
The cleric described the reported Federal High Court judgment affecting the party as a self-inflicted wound rather than an act of political persecution, insisting that no political organisation is above the law.
According to him, democracy is sustained through strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and regulations governing political parties, rather than public sentiment or political convenience.
He cited Section 1(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and makes its provisions binding on all persons and institutions within the country.
Fr. Ferife also referenced Section 1(2) of the Constitution, which provides that no person or group of persons shall take control of government except in accordance with constitutional provisions, stressing that political parties must operate within the framework of the law.
He argued that parties should ensure full compliance with the requirements laid down by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the courts exist to interpret and enforce the law rather than to rescue political actors from avoidable procedural failures.
The cleric further expressed concern over allegations that the NDC failed to uphold internal democratic principles by issuing tickets to individuals who neither participated in nor emerged victorious in duly conducted primaries.
He noted that Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 requires political parties to nominate candidates through democratic primaries, while Sections 82 and 83 mandate prior notification to INEC and empower the Commission to monitor such exercises.
According to him, these provisions serve as safeguards against candidate imposition and other practices capable of undermining the country’s democratic process.
Fr. Ferife also cited Section 223 of the Constitution, which requires political parties to operate according to democratic principles, emphasizing that democracy must first be practised within political organisations before it can function effectively at the national level.
“The judiciary remains a guardian of the rule of law and not an instrument for validating political shortcuts,” he stated.
He warned that parties which ignore due process during internal activities should not be surprised by the legal consequences that may follow, insisting that constitutional compliance cannot be sacrificed for political expediency.
The clergy therefore warned that the NDC’s present challenges should be viewed as a lesson for all political parties on the importance of respecting the Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines and internal party democracy.
