Martha Udom
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judicial officers, politicians, lawyers and other stakeholders against turning the courts into political battlegrounds ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the swearing-in ceremony of 375 judicial officers appointed to serve on election petition tribunals across the country, Kekere-Ekun said election petitions must be decided strictly on the basis of evidence and applicable laws, not political pressure, public sentiment or the popularity of candidates.
She warned politicians, political parties, public officials and social media users against attempts to influence judicial decisions through intimidation, deliberate misinformation and campaigns aimed at undermining public confidence in the courts.
The CJN said the judiciary would not tolerate attempts to undermine its independence or manipulate judicial proceedings, stressing that courtrooms must not become extensions of the political arena.
She also cautioned judicial officers against issuing conflicting orders, forum shopping, filing multiple suits on the same matter and abusing ex parte applications to gain tactical advantages. She added that the pursuit of speedy justice must not come at the expense of the right to fair hearing.
The ceremony, held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, also marked the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and members of election petition tribunals. The workshop is themed “Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability.”
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that the 375 tribunal members comprise 138 returning members with previous tribunal experience and 237 newly nominated members.
Also speaking, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to introduce a special code of conduct for lawyers handling electoral disputes to curb professional misconduct.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, raised concerns over the growing threat of deepfake videos, artificial intelligence-generated disinformation and manipulated electronic evidence, warning that these could complicate election petitions and threaten political stability.
He urged judicial officers to ensure consistency in interpreting electoral laws, particularly provisions relating to substantial compliance, the burden and standard of proof, and candidate nomination disputes.
Amupitan said the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027. He added that the legitimacy of Nigeria’s democracy would depend on impartial electoral administration and fearless judicial adjudication.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual 2026 by the CJN. The manual contains relevant constitutional provisions, sections of the Electoral Act, practice directions and decided cases to guide judicial officers in handling election-related disputes.
The workshop is scheduled to end on Wednesday, with sessions focusing on evidence, electoral law and judgment writing.
