The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has inaugurated members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning them against political interference, intimidation and external pressure.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday during the inauguration ceremony held at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja.
The event also featured the unveiling of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a specialised training programme for judges and tribunal members ahead of the forthcoming elections.
According to Channels Television, the CJN urged members of the tribunals to uphold their judicial oaths and ensure that election-related disputes were resolved fairly, impartially and in accordance with the law.
She emphasised the need for strict compliance with constitutional and statutory timelines governing election petitions, warning that unnecessary delays and poor case management would not be tolerated.
The head of the Nigerian judiciary also cautioned lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public against conduct capable of undermining the judicial process.
She specifically raised concerns about the misuse of ex parte applications and online activities intended to influence pending cases, intimidate judges or threaten judicial officers.
Kekere-Ekun maintained that safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy required collective responsibility from all institutions and stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
She urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and legal practitioners to discharge their responsibilities professionally and within the provisions of the law.
The CJN further stressed that election disputes must be determined strictly on the basis of applicable laws and evidence presented before the courts.
She also announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, highlighted the importance of election petition tribunals in resolving political disputes and sustaining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Amupitan spoke during a three-day training programme organised for justices and members of election petition tribunals in Abuja.
He described the tribunals as critical constitutional institutions responsible for resolving electoral disagreements peacefully and ensuring that political disputes were settled through established legal procedures.
The INEC chairman also identified emerging technological challenges confronting election litigation, particularly the increasing use of digital misinformation and artificial intelligence.
He noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal had contributed to improving electoral transparency.
However, he warned that judicial officers must be adequately prepared to handle new threats, including AI-generated deepfakes and fabricated information that could influence election disputes.
The inauguration and training exercise come as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, with election petition tribunals expected to play a significant role in resolving disputes arising from the polls.
