The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, have urged judicial officers selected for the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to remain independent and resist political pressure, intimidation and inducement while adjudicating election-related disputes.
The warning was delivered on Monday during the opening of a three-day induction workshop for judges, justices of the Court of Appeal and tribunal members in Abuja.
Fagbemi cautioned that flawed or compromised rulings could erode public confidence in the judiciary and have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democracy. He stressed that judges must uphold justice regardless of public opinion, political interests or pressure from influential individuals and groups.
According to the Attorney-General, the Electoral Act 2026 introduced significant reforms that will shape the resolution of disputes arising from the 2027 general elections. He noted that some provisions of the law, particularly those relating to political party affairs and sanctions for prohibited intra-party litigation, would require careful interpretation and enforcement by the courts.
Fagbemi also advocated the establishment of multiple tribunal panels in states expected to record high volumes of election petitions. He said the measure would help ensure cases are concluded within constitutional timelines while maintaining the quality of judicial decisions.
In her keynote address, Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun reminded legal practitioners that election petitions must be determined strictly on the basis of evidence, pleadings and applicable laws, not political sentiments or public opinion.
She criticised the practice of filing multiple suits on similar issues, seeking conflicting court orders and using legal processes for political advantage. The CJN warned lawyers against turning courtrooms into extensions of political contests.
The Chief Justice also cautioned politicians, their supporters, public office holders and social media users against attempting to influence ongoing cases through intimidation, misinformation or public campaigns targeted at judicial officers.
She noted that the spread of unverified allegations and misleading accounts of court proceedings could distort public understanding of legal processes and create the impression that cases are decided by popular sentiment rather than facts and the law.
Kekere-Ekun emphasised that while judicial decisions may be criticised, efforts to intimidate judges or prejudice pending cases undermine the rule of law and should be discouraged.
She further reminded tribunal members to comply with constitutional timelines for election petitions while ensuring all parties receive a fair hearing.
Speaking at the event, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) highlighted the critical role of election tribunals in preserving democratic stability in Nigeria and across Africa. He said many countries on the continent look to Nigeria as a model, making the credibility of its electoral process particularly important.
Amupitan also raised concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence technologies, including deepfake videos, cloned voices and manipulated audio recordings, warning that such tools could be used to mislead voters and complicate election dispute resolution.
He urged tribunal members to apply strict evidentiary standards when assessing electronic evidence and emphasised the importance of verifying digital authenticity and data provenance.
The INEC chairman identified disputes involving electronic transmission of results, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal, party primaries and candidate nominations as likely flashpoints during the 2027 election litigation process.
Earlier, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that 375 judicial officers had been nominated to serve on election petition tribunals nationwide. Of the number, 138 have previous tribunal experience, while 237 are serving for the first time.
She described the appointments as a call to national service and urged tribunal members to avoid political influence, personal interests and unnecessary adjournments that could delay justice.
Dongban-Mensem also announced new technological reforms, including a centralised Case Management System and an electronic filing platform, aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and timely handling of election-related cases.
The workshop, themed “Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability,” was organised to prepare judicial officers for the adjudication of disputes arising from Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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