The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, swore in 375 judges to serve on election-petition tribunals ahead of next year’s general elections, warning the judiciary against political interference as the nation prepares for a closely watched electoral cycle.
She administered the oath on Monday at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja, alongside the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual, during a three-day training program for tribunal members.
She urged the judges to decide disputes based solely on evidence and the law, resisting pressure, intimidation and public campaigns that could prejudge cases.
“The courtroom must not become an extension of the political arena,” Kekere-Ekun said, according to officials at the ceremony.
She warned lawyers, political parties, media organizations and the public against unethical litigation tactics, including the misuse of ex parte applications and online efforts to influence tribunal outcomes.
The judiciary’s preparations come as the nation prepares for presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, followed by governorship and state assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
Election-petition tribunals will be responsible for resolving disputes arising from the votes.
Kekere-Ekun said constitutional and statutory deadlines leave little room for delay or weak case management, placing a premium on swift, disciplined adjudication once petitions are filed.
Speaking at the ceremony, Court of Appeal President Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem said 375 judicial officers had been nominated for the tribunals: 138 with prior election-tribunal experience and 237 serving for the first time.
The appointments reflect an effort to balance institutional experience with new personnel as the judiciary braces for what is expected to be a high-stakes round of postelection litigation.
Officials described the inauguration as part of broader preparations to protect constitutional democracy and public confidence in the electoral system.
In his speech, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan said the tribunals remain central to defusing political tensions and preserving trust in elections.
He pointed to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as tools that have improved transparency, while flagging artificial-intelligence-generated deepfakes and digital misinformation as emerging risks for electoral litigation.
Amupitan said the quality and transparency of tribunal rulings would help determine Nigeria’s political stability after the elections.
The ceremony underscores the judiciary’s expanding role in elections: beyond resolving disputes, tribunals are increasingly being positioned as a safeguard against efforts to manipulate public opinion or pressure judges outside the courtroom.
