CJN Kekere-Ekun Swears In 375 Judges For 2027 Election Petition Tribunals
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has inaugurated 375 judges 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.
The judges were sworn in on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja as the judiciary steps up preparations for disputes that may arise from the forthcoming general elections.
The ceremony also featured the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and the commencement of a specialised capacity-building workshop for judicial officers.
Addressing the newly inaugurated tribunal members, Kekere-Ekun emphasised the importance of judicial independence, impartiality and strict adherence to constitutional provisions in the determination of election-related disputes.
She warned politicians, lawyers, political parties and other stakeholders against attempting to influence judicial proceedings through political pressure, intimidation, unethical practices or campaigns on social media.
The CJN stressed that election petitions must be decided strictly on the basis of evidence and applicable laws, rather than public sentiment or political interests.
She also cautioned against the abuse of ex parte applications and the filing of multiple cases aimed at obtaining conflicting court orders.
According to her, the statutory timelines governing election petition proceedings require judges to demonstrate efficiency in case management and avoid unnecessary delays.
138 Returning Judges, 237 New Members
Speaking at the inauguration, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that the 375 judicial officers were drawn from different courts and judicial institutions across the country.
She explained that 138 of the judges had previously served on election petition tribunals, while 237 were appointed to serve for the first time.
She urged the judges to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, fairness and impartiality, noting that their decisions would attract considerable public attention.
She also warned against improper influence, whether through political pressure, inducement, intimidation or personal relationships.
INEC Raises Concerns Over Digital Threats
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, also highlighted emerging challenges that could complicate election petition proceedings in 2027.
He drew attention to the growing influence of digital technology, particularly artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and misinformation, in the electoral process.
He noted that while technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) contribute to electoral transparency, judicial officers must be prepared to address disputes involving electronic evidence and digital manipulation.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also called on the Nigerian Bar Association to develop ethical guidelines for lawyers handling election-related cases.
Legal Framework For Election Tribunals
The establishment of the Election Petition Tribunals is backed by Section 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The provisions empower the President of the Court of Appeal to constitute tribunals to determine disputes arising from National and State Houses of Assembly elections, as well as governorship elections.
The Electoral Act 2026 also provides timelines for establishing the tribunals and opening their registries.
The inauguration comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The judiciary’s preparations are aimed at ensuring that electoral disputes are resolved within the time prescribed by law and that the credibility of the electoral process is protected.
Trek Africa Newspaper reports that the conduct of election petition proceedings will remain an important test of judicial independence, transparency and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
