Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has charged members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary by delivering justice without fear or favour.
Justice Kekere-Ekun gave the charge in Abuja while swearing in newly nominated members of the Election Petition Tribunals for the 2027 General Elections, urging them to remain firm against external influence and political pressure as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
Speaking at the Body of Benchers Auditorium during the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a specialised capacity-building workshop, the CJN reminded the judges that their responsibility goes beyond resolving disputes, as their decisions would have a direct impact on public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
She warned judicial officers against allowing unnecessary delays in election cases, stressing that constitutional and statutory timelines require strict compliance and effective case management.
According to her, election petition proceedings must be handled with urgency, professionalism and a commitment to justice, as delays could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
The CJN also cautioned lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public against actions capable of interfering with judicial proceedings, including unethical tactics, abuse of ex parte applications and online campaigns designed to influence or intimidate judges.
Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that the responsibility of protecting democracy requires cooperation among all stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political actors and the legal profession.
She stressed that while other institutions have specific roles to play during elections, the judiciary’s duty remains limited to determining disputes based on the law and available evidence.
The CJN disclosed that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly Elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who attended the three-day workshop for justices and tribunal members in Abuja, described election petition tribunals as critical constitutional mechanisms for resolving political disputes and maintaining public trust.
Amupitan said the growing complexity of electoral processes requires the judiciary to be prepared for emerging challenges, including digital misinformation, artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and other technology-driven threats.
He added that systems such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) have improved transparency but also introduced new areas requiring judicial understanding during election litigation.
