CJN Swears In Election Petition Tribunal Members Ahead of 2027 General Elections

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in newly nominated members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 General Elections, urging them to uphold judicial independence and dispense justice without fear or favour.

The ceremony took place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja and coincided with the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a specialised capacity-building workshop for judicial officers.

CJN Warns Against Political Interference

Addressing the tribunal members, Kekere-Ekun urged them to remain faithful to their judicial oaths, resist external political pressure and ensure that election disputes are determined strictly according to the law and available evidence.

She stressed the importance of efficient case management, noting that constitutional and statutory timelines governing election petitions leave little room for unnecessary delays.

The CJN also cautioned lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public against unethical practices, including the abuse of ex parte applications and online campaigns intended to influence pending cases or intimidate judicial officers.

She emphasised that protecting the credibility of elections requires collective responsibility from all institutions involved in the democratic process.

2027 Election Dates Highlighted

Kekere-Ekun highlighted the scheduled dates for the 2027 general elections, stating that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were scheduled for February 6, 2027.

She noted that the judiciary's responsibility would be to resolve disputes arising from the electoral process in accordance with constitutional provisions and established legal procedures.

INEC Emphasises Judicial Role in Electoral Credibility

Speaking at the three-day capacity-building workshop in Abuja, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, described election petition tribunals as essential institutions for resolving electoral disputes and maintaining public confidence in the democratic process.

Amupitan said effective collaboration between electoral management institutions and the judiciary was important to reducing political tensions and strengthening the rule of law.

He also highlighted emerging challenges in electoral litigation, particularly those involving technology and digital misinformation.

While acknowledging the role of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in promoting transparency, the INEC chairman stressed the need for judicial officers to understand emerging threats, including artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes.

He noted that addressing such challenges would be important in protecting the credibility of the electoral process as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.

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