Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned judges who may serve on election petition tribunals during the 2027 general elections to maintain strict impartiality and avoid political involvement.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Wednesday at the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court in Abuja.
She said some judges of the Industrial Court could be appointed to serve on election petition tribunals under the constitutional and legal framework governing the 2027 elections.
The CJN noted that election disputes often attract intense political interest and public scrutiny, making it necessary for judges handling such cases to be particularly mindful of their conduct, relationships and public appearances.
She said the responsibilities of judges serving on election tribunals would assume greater importance as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
“You will be monitored. As we approach another electoral season, these responsibilities assume even greater importance. Some of Your Lordships may, in accordance with the applicable constitutional and legal framework, be called upon to serve as members of Election Petition Tribunals.
“In that capacity, Your Lordships will be called upon to decide politically sensitive disputes which attract considerable public attention,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun urged judges to uphold judicial independence and ensure that their decisions are guided by the law rather than political considerations.
She stressed that judges must maintain the confidence of the public by conducting themselves in a manner that protects the integrity and credibility of the judiciary.
