Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday, November 9, 2026, swore in 375 judicial officers nominated to serve on Nigeria’s 2027 Election Petition Tribunals during a ceremony at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.

The inauguration marks an important stage in preparations for the 2027 general elections, as the Judiciary moves to establish the judicial structures required to handle disputes that may arise from the electoral process.

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During the ceremony, Kekere-Ekun charged the newly inaugurated tribunal members to uphold judicial independence, demonstrate impartiality and resist political interference in the discharge of their responsibilities.

She warned politicians, lawyers, public officials and social media users against attempting to turn the courts into extensions of political campaigns.

The Chief Justice stressed that election petition proceedings must be determined strictly on the basis of evidence, applicable laws and constitutional provisions rather than public sentiment or political influence.

She also cautioned against unethical legal practices, including the abuse of ex parte applications, multiple court actions and online campaigns intended to intimidate judicial officers or influence pending cases.

According to her, the statutory timelines governing election petitions leave little room for unnecessary delays, making efficient case management and timely adjudication essential.

She urged tribunal judges to approach their responsibilities with integrity, fairness and a clear understanding of the importance of their decisions to Nigeria’s democratic process.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that the 375 judicial officers comprised 138 returning members with previous election tribunal experience and 237 newly nominated members.

Dongban-Mensem described the inauguration as an important institutional preparation for the judicial responsibilities that would follow the 2027 elections.

She noted that the credibility of democracy depended not only on the conduct of elections but also on the availability of impartial and effective mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.

The Court of Appeal president also urged the judges to resist improper influence, whether through political pressure, financial inducements, intimidation or personal relationships.

She reminded them that their decisions would attract considerable public scrutiny and that the quality of their judgments would have implications for public confidence in the judicial system.

The event also featured the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual 2026 and the commencement of a specialised three-day capacity-building workshop for justices and election tribunal members.

The manual is designed to provide judicial officers with a consolidated reference on constitutional provisions, electoral legislation, judicial procedures and previous decisions relevant to election disputes.

However, Kekere-Ekun emphasised that the publication should serve as a guide rather than a substitute for independent judicial reasoning.

Speaking at the gathering, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, highlighted the importance of cooperation between electoral authorities and the Judiciary in strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.

Amupitan described election petition tribunals as important constitutional institutions for resolving political disagreements and preventing electoral disputes from escalating into wider instability.

He also drew attention to emerging challenges associated with technology and digital misinformation, particularly artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes.

According to him, judicial officers must be prepared to examine disputes involving electronic voting technology, digital election records and allegations of manipulated online content.

He specifically highlighted the importance of understanding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, noting that technological developments would increasingly influence the nature of electoral litigation.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also called for stronger ethical standards among lawyers appearing before election petition tribunals.

Fagbemi urged the Nigerian Bar Association to develop clear guidelines to promote professional conduct and discourage the use of litigation as an instrument of political intimidation.

He stressed that courts should remain institutions for the fair resolution of disputes rather than platforms for extending political disagreements.

The inauguration comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

Under Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, election petition tribunals are established to adjudicate disputes arising from National and State Houses of Assembly elections, as well as governorship elections.

The judicial process is an important part of Nigeria’s electoral framework, providing candidates and political parties with a constitutional avenue to challenge election outcomes where they believe legal requirements have not been satisfied.

The 2027 election cycle is expected to place considerable responsibilities on the Judiciary, particularly given the strict constitutional timelines governing the filing and determination of election petitions.

For the newly inaugurated judicial officers, the challenge will be to deliver decisions that are not only timely but also credible, transparent and firmly grounded in the law.

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the polls, Kekere-Ekun’s warning underscores the importance of protecting judicial independence and ensuring that electoral disputes are resolved without fear, favour or external pressure.

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Ultimately, public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy will depend not only on how votes are cast and counted but also on whether disputes arising from the process receive fair and impartial judicial treatment.