2027 Elections: CJN Warns Tribunal Judges Their Conduct Will Be Monitored

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may be appointed to serve on election petition tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections to maintain strict impartiality, cautioning that their conduct will be closely scrutinised.

Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Wednesday during the flag-off ceremony for the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, in Abuja.

She noted that some judges of the court could be called upon to serve on election petition tribunals, where they would be required to determine politically sensitive disputes that attract considerable public attention.

The CJN said such responsibilities demanded a high degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment from political interests.

“Whether sitting in this Court or performing a Tribunal assignment, you must remain conscious that your conduct will be closely scrutinised,” she said.

She urged the judges to ensure that their personal associations, public engagements and other activities did not create a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.

The head of the judiciary also cautioned lawyers against filing duplicate cases in different courts, warning that the practice could result in conflicting judgments, undermine public confidence and damage the reputation of the judiciary.

She stressed that legal proceedings must be initiated in the appropriate courts as determined by law, rather than based on expectations about which judge or court might deliver a favourable outcome.

“The Bar must never become an instrument through which the judicial process is manipulated for partisan or strategic purposes,” she said.

Kekere-Ekun further urged lawyers and other stakeholders to exercise restraint when commenting publicly on judicial proceedings.

While acknowledging the right of individuals to criticise judgments and judicial processes, she said such criticism should not degenerate into personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of court proceedings or attempts to pressure the judiciary through public opinion.

She advised anyone with genuine concerns about judicial conduct to use the appropriate institutional channels.

The CJN also called on judicial officers to ensure that their decisions remained firmly grounded in the Constitution, applicable laws, binding precedents and established principles of judicial reasoning.

Her warning comes as preparations gather momentum for the 2027 general elections, when election petition tribunals are expected to adjudicate disputes arising from the electoral process.