CJN Inaugurates 375 Judges for 2027 Election Tribunals, Warns Against Political Interference
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has inaugurated 375 judicial officers selected to serve on Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections, charging them to resist political interference and uphold the rule of law in handling electoral disputes.
The judges were sworn in on Monday at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, during an event that also featured the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a specialised capacity-building workshop for judicial officers.
PulseNets learnt from the proceedings that Kekere-Ekun urged the tribunal members to discharge their duties with impartiality, integrity and strict adherence to constitutional provisions, warning that political pressure must not influence their decisions.
She also stressed that the statutory timelines for determining election petitions required judicial officers to demonstrate efficiency in case management and avoid unnecessary delays.
The CJN cautioned lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public against unethical conduct, particularly the abuse of ex parte applications and online campaigns intended to influence pending cases or intimidate judicial officers.
She maintained that although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and legal practitioners each had specific responsibilities in ensuring credible elections, the Judiciary must remain committed to resolving electoral disputes strictly on the basis of the law and available evidence.
The inauguration comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
Court of Appeal President Urges Impartiality
Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, described the inauguration as an important institutional preparation for the judicial responsibilities that would follow the elections.
She said the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process depended not only on the conduct of elections but also on the availability of impartial, effective and timely mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from the process.
“This gathering is more than a ceremonial event; it is an important institutional preparation for one of the most consequential responsibilities entrusted to the judiciary.
“The credibility of democracy depends not only on the conduct of elections but also on the existence of impartial, effective, and timely mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.
“Through the fair determination of such disputes, the Judiciary safeguards the people’s mandate, upholds constitutional supremacy and sustains public confidence in democratic governance,” she said.
Dongban-Mensem further reminded the judges that their conduct and decisions would attract considerable public scrutiny.
She disclosed that the 375 judicial officers were drawn from different courts and judicial institutions across the country. Of the total number, 138 had previously served on election petition tribunals, while 237 would be serving for the first time.
INEC Chairman Highlights Digital Threats to Election Litigation
The legal framework for the tribunals is provided under Section 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the establishment of tribunals to determine disputes arising from National and State Houses of Assembly elections, as well as governorship elections.
Similarly, Section 134(3)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, outlines provisions relating to the constitution of the tribunals and the opening of their registries.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, emphasised the importance of cooperation between the electoral body and the Judiciary in ensuring credible elections and resolving disputes that may arise from the process.
Speaking at the three-day workshop for justices and tribunal members in Abuja, Amupitan described election petition tribunals as critical constitutional institutions for managing post-election disagreements and sustaining public confidence in democratic governance.
Also Read: CJN Bans Use of ‘Barrister’ Title in Supreme Court Official Correspondence
He also highlighted emerging challenges in electoral litigation, particularly the growing influence of digital technology and misinformation.
While acknowledging the role of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in promoting transparency, the INEC chairman said judicial officers must be prepared to address emerging digital threats, including artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, which could complicate the adjudication of election disputes.
The workshop is expected to prepare judicial officers for the legal, procedural and technological challenges that may arise during the adjudication of disputes following the 2027 general elections.
