Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in 375 newly nominated members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections, charging them to uphold the rule of law and dispense justice without fear or favour.
The ceremony held nn Monday at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja, which also featured the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a specialised capacity-building workshop, Kekere-Ekun said the integrity of the democratic process depended on the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.
The chief justice said while the electoral commission, security agencies and legal practitioners must discharge their statutory responsibilities conscientiously, the judiciary’s duty was to resolve disputes strictly in accordance with the law and evidence.
She urged the judicial officers to remain faithful to their oaths, resist external political pressure and administer justice without fear or favour as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
Kekere-Ekun highlighted the importance of the forthcoming elections, noting 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.
Addressing the tribunal members, she stressed that constitutional and statutory timelines for election petitions required strict adherence, leaving no room for unnecessary delays or poor case management.
She also called on legal practitioners, political parties, media organisations and members of the public to shun unethical practices, abuse of ex parte proceedings and online campaigns aimed at prejudging cases or intimidating judicial officers.
The CJN reiterated that safeguarding democratic integrity required the commitment of all stakeholders.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Jossy Amupitan, said effective collaboration between electoral management and judicial adjudication was crucial to the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a three-day workshop for justices and election tribunal members in Abuja, Amupitan described election petition tribunals as critical constitutional safeguards for resolving electoral disputes, reducing political tension and sustaining public confidence in the rule of law.
He said the growing complexity of electoral litigation required judicial officers to understand the implications of modern voting technology and emerging digital threats.
While noting that technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal had enhanced electoral transparency, the INEC chairman warned that the judiciary must also be prepared to address sophisticated challenges, including AI-generated deepfakes and other forms of digital misinformation.
He said tackling such threats was essential to protecting the credibility of the electoral process and public trust in the outcome of the polls.
