2027 Elections: CJN Puts Tribunal Judges on Notice, Demands Strict Political Neutrality
2027 Elections: CJN Puts Tribunal Judges on Notice, Demands Strict Political Neutrality
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has placed judges who may handle the 2027 election disputes on notice, insisting that their conduct, associations and public engagements will come under close scrutiny as the country approaches another politically sensitive electoral season.
The CJN’s warning underscores the growing importance of judicial neutrality in Nigeria’s 2027 elections, particularly as disputes arising from nominations, party primaries, candidate eligibility and election results are expected to place considerable pressure on the courts.
Speaking at the 2026/2027 legal year ceremony of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja, Kekere-Ekun said some judges could be called upon to serve on Election Petition Tribunals. She stressed that such assignments require a higher degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment because the cases before them would attract intense public and political attention.
The CJN warned that judges must avoid conduct capable of creating the impression that they are politically aligned with any party, candidate or interest group. According to her, judicial officers must ensure that their decisions remain firmly anchored on the Constitution, applicable laws, binding precedents and established principles of judicial reasoning.
The warning comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s long history of election-related litigation, with presidential and other major electoral contests frequently ending in court. The increasing reliance on litigation to settle political disputes has consequently placed the judiciary at the centre of Nigeria’s democratic process and made public confidence in judicial neutrality particularly important.
Kekere-Ekun also cautioned lawyers against filing similar cases in different courts or judicial divisions in search of favourable outcomes. She warned that such forum-shopping could produce conflicting judgments and undermine confidence in the justice system. The CJN maintained that the appropriate court should be determined by law rather than by the perceived chances of success before a particular judge.
Another concern raised by the CJN was the growing use of public commentary to influence judicial proceedings. She said lawyers and litigants have the right to criticise judgments through legitimate channels but should not resort to personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to pressure courts through public opinion.
The CJN further extended her warning to the use of Artificial Intelligence in legal practice, urging lawyers to independently verify authorities generated by AI systems before presenting them in court. She noted that AI could produce apparently convincing but non-existent cases, inaccurate citations or wrongly attributed quotations, making professional verification indispensable.
Her position is particularly significant ahead of 2027 because the judiciary will be expected to resolve electoral disputes within constitutional and statutory timelines while maintaining the confidence of both winners and losers. Previous concerns over conflicting orders, forum-shopping and the misuse of judicial processes have already generated debate about the judiciary’s role in electoral politics.
As political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, the credibility of the courts will therefore remain as important as the conduct of the polls themselves. For the judiciary, the challenge will be to demonstrate that election disputes can be resolved strictly according to law, without political pressure, personal interest or public sentiment influencing judicial decisions.
The CJN’s message ultimately places a dual responsibility on the Bench and the Bar: judges must protect their neutrality and integrity, while lawyers must ensure that the courts are used to resolve genuine legal disputes rather than as instruments for securing political advantage. The manner in which both sides respond could significantly shape public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral justice system in 2027.
