Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may serve on the 2027 election petition tribunals that their conduct will be closely scrutinised, urging them to maintain strict impartiality and avoid any association or public engagement that could create the perception of political alignment.
Key Highlights
- CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun warned that 2027 election tribunal judges will be closely monitored.
- She urged judges to maintain impartiality, restraint and detachment.
- Some National Industrial Court judges may be called to serve on election petition tribunals.
- Kekere-Ekun also warned lawyers against forum shopping and duplicating court actions.
- She said conflicting court orders could damage public confidence in the judiciary.
- The NICN disposed of 2,236 cases in the past 12 months.
CJN Warns Judges Ahead of 2027 Elections
Kekere-Ekun issued the warning on Wednesday during the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja, where the court’s new headquarters building was also commissioned.
The CJN noted that some judges of the National Industrial Court could, under the applicable constitutional and legal framework, be called upon to serve on election petition tribunals.
She said the politically sensitive nature of election disputes and the considerable public attention surrounding such cases required judges handling them to demonstrate a high degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment.
“Whether sitting in this Court or performing a Tribunal assignment, you must remain conscious that your conduct will be closely scrutinised,” Kekere-Ekun said.
She urged judges to ensure that nothing in their associations, public engagements or other conduct created a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.
Judges Must Protect Public Confidence
The CJN stressed that the responsibility of judges extends beyond their decisions in court, particularly when they are assigned to politically sensitive election disputes.
Her warning comes as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections and as election-related disputes are expected to place significant demands on the judiciary.
Kekere-Ekun said judicial officers must ensure that their conduct remains consistent with the constitutional principles and standards expected of members of the Bench.
She also emphasised the importance of ensuring that judicial decisions remain firmly anchored in the Constitution, applicable legislation, binding precedent and established principles of judicial reasoning.
CJN Warns Lawyers Against Forum Shopping
The CJN also addressed members of the legal profession, cautioning lawyers against duplicating court actions in ways that could result in conflicting judgments or orders.
She warned that politically sensitive litigation requires particularly careful professional judgment and urged lawyers to avoid attempts to use different courts or divisions in search of more favourable outcomes.
According to her, forum shopping and parallel proceedings capable of producing conflicting orders could damage public confidence and expose the judiciary to avoidable embarrassment.
Kekere-Ekun further said lawyers have a right to criticise judgments and judicial processes but should not resort to personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to pressure courts through public opinion.
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NICN Disposes of 2,236 Cases
During the legal year ceremony, the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, disclosed that the court disposed of 2,236 cases across its judicial divisions over the previous 12 months.
He said the development had significantly reduced the court’s historical backlog, crediting the judges for their commitment despite the pressure associated with the volume of cases.
Kanyip, however, expressed concern over the limited use of the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre.
He disclosed that only 31 cases were referred to the ADR Centre across the court’s judicial divisions during the period, with 11 eventually resolved.
2027 Election Tribunals Face Increased Scrutiny
The CJN’s warning places renewed focus on the conduct of judges who may be assigned to resolve disputes arising from the 2027 elections.
Election petition tribunals are expected to handle politically sensitive disputes that could attract intense public and political attention.
Kekere-Ekun’s message was that judges assigned to such cases must maintain not only judicial independence but also conduct that does not reasonably suggest partisan alignment.
The warning comes as the judiciary prepares for another electoral cycle in which the impartiality, credibility and public confidence in election dispute resolution are likely to remain major issues.
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