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| CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun |
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in the newly nominated members of the Election Petition Tribunals for the 2027 General Elections, urging them to resist political pressure and deliver justice without fear or favour.
At the ceremony in Abuja’s Body of Benchers Auditorium, which also featured the launch of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a capacity-building workshop, the CJN stressed that judicial officers must uphold their oaths and manage election cases without delays, given the strict constitutional and statutory timelines.
She confirmed that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Justice Kekere-Ekun also warned legal practitioners, political parties, the media, and the public against unethical conduct, abuse of ex parte applications, and online campaigns designed to prejudge cases or intimidate judges.
She said electoral integrity is a shared responsibility: while INEC, security agencies, and the Bar must perform their roles diligently, the Judiciary must resolve disputes strictly based on the law and evidence.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly anchored its operational readiness to the collaboration between electoral management and judicial adjudication.
Speaking at the three-day workshop for justices and tribunal members in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, who was in attendance, emphasised that election petition tribunals serve as the ultimate constitutional safety valves required to de-escalate political friction and secure public trust under the Rule of Law.
Addressing the evolving complexities of electoral litigation, INEC highlighted the critical intersection between modern voting technology and emerging digital threats ahead of the polls.
While systems like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) continue to enhance transparency, he underscored that the judiciary must now navigate sophisticated digital challenges, including AI-generated deepfakes, among others, to safeguard the electoral process against misinformation
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