2027 Election Cases: CJN Warns Tribunal Judges, Says Conduct Will Be Monitored

2027 Election Cases: CJN Warns Tribunal Judges, Says Conduct Will Be Monitored

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may serve on 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to maintain strict impartiality and ensure that their conduct does not create any perception of political bias.

The CJN said judges handling politically sensitive election cases must remain detached and allow the law, rather than political considerations or public pressure, to guide their decisions.

Kekere-Ekun issued the warning in Abuja during the 2026/2027 legal year ceremony of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, where she stressed the importance of protecting public confidence in the judiciary ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She said judges could come under intense scrutiny while handling election-related disputes and urged them to be mindful of their conduct both inside and outside the courtroom.

According to her, judges must ensure that their associations, public engagements and other activities do not give the impression that they have taken sides in political disputes.

“Whether sitting in this Court or performing a Tribunal assignment, you must remain conscious that your conduct will be closely scrutinised,” she warned.

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The CJN urged judges to base their decisions strictly on the Constitution, electoral laws, binding judicial precedents and established principles of law.

She also cautioned lawyers and litigants against forum shopping and filing parallel cases in different courts in an attempt to obtain conflicting orders.

Kekere-Ekun said such practices could undermine the administration of justice and damage public confidence in the judiciary.

She further called for restraint in public commentary on ongoing judicial proceedings, warning against personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of court proceedings and attempts to influence judicial decisions through public pressure.

The CJN said individuals with genuine complaints about judicial conduct should use the appropriate institutional channels rather than resorting to public campaigns.

Kekere-Ekun also raised concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal research, warning lawyers that some AI systems could produce fabricated cases, citations and quotations.

She reminded legal practitioners that they remained professionally responsible for verifying every authority presented before a court.

The warning comes as political parties, candidates and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with several pre-election disputes already expected to test the Nigerian judiciary.

The courts are likely to play a crucial role in resolving disputes arising from the electoral process, making judicial independence, impartiality and public confidence particularly important as the country approaches the polls.

2027 Election Cases: CJN Warns Tribunal Judges, Says Conduct Will Be Monitored