The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may be appointed to election petition tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections to maintain strict impartiality and avoid any conduct that could create the perception of political alignment.

Kekere-Ekun said the warning was particularly important because election disputes are politically sensitive and are likely to attract intense public attention.

She spoke on Wednesday at the flag-off ceremony of the 2026/2027 legal year of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, where she also addressed concerns about lawyers’ conduct and public commentary on judicial proceedings.

Key Takeaways

• Kudirat Kekere-Ekun warned potential election tribunal judges to remain impartial and politically detached.
• Judges were cautioned against associations, public engagements or other conduct that could create a perception of political alignment.
• The CJN warned lawyers against duplicating court actions in ways that could produce conflicting judgments.
• She also urged restraint in public criticism of judges and judicial proceedings.
• The judiciary, she said, must remain prepared to address emerging challenges while grounding decisions in the Constitution, applicable laws and binding precedents.

Why The CJN Is Emphasising Judicial Neutrality Ahead Of 2027

The approaching electoral season is expected to bring renewed attention to the courts because some judges may be called upon to serve on Election Petition Tribunals.

According to the CJN, such assignments would place judges in the position of deciding politically sensitive disputes capable of attracting considerable public scrutiny.

She therefore said judges taking on tribunal responsibilities would need to demonstrate an especially high level of impartiality, restraint and detachment.

“The nature of such assignments therefore demands an even greater degree of impartiality, restraint and detachment.”

The warning extends beyond the decisions judges make inside the courtroom.

Kekere-Ekun said their associations, public engagements and other conduct must not create a reasonable perception that they have already aligned themselves politically or developed a predisposition toward a particular side.

Judges’ Conduct Could Face Close Public Scrutiny

The CJN stressed that judicial conduct would remain important whether judges were sitting at the National Industrial Court or performing duties on election tribunals.

Her message was that judges must remain conscious of how their conduct could be perceived, particularly when dealing with politically sensitive matters.

She said:

“You must ensure that nothing in your associations, public engagements or other conduct creates a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.”

The emphasis on perception is significant to the warning because election-related disputes can attract strong political reactions. Maintaining confidence in the judicial process therefore requires judges to approach such cases without conduct that could reasonably raise questions about their neutrality.

CJN Warns Lawyers Against Duplicating Court Actions

Kekere-Ekun also turned her attention to lawyers, cautioning against the practice of initiating similar proceedings in different courts when doing so could produce conflicting judgments.

She said such conduct could undermine confidence in the judiciary and expose the institution to disrepute.

The CJN further warned that lawyers should not allow legal processes to become tools for partisan or strategic purposes.

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

She added that the choice of the appropriate court should be determined by law rather than by assumptions about which judge or court might provide a more favourable outcome.

“The proper forum is determined by law, not by the perceived likelihood of success before a particular Judge or court.”

The warning places responsibility on legal practitioners to respect the structure of the judicial system while pursuing cases on behalf of their clients.

Public Criticism Of Courts Should Have Limits

The CJN also called for restraint in public commentary concerning judicial proceedings.

She acknowledged that parties have the right to criticise judgments and judicial processes. However, she said such criticism should not cross into personal attacks against judges, deliberate distortion of proceedings or attempts to exert pressure on courts through public opinion.

Kekere-Ekun said:

“The right to criticise a judgment or judicial process does not extend to personal attacks on Judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to bring pressure to bear on the Court through public opinion.”

She pointed to institutional channels as the appropriate avenue for addressing genuine concerns about judicial conduct.

“Where there are genuine concerns about judicial conduct, the appropriate institutional channels remain available and should be used.”

The distinction allows criticism of judicial decisions while drawing a line against conduct that the CJN said could undermine the judicial process.

What The Warning Means For Election Petition Tribunals

Election Petition Tribunals occupy an important position in the legal process surrounding electoral disputes because judges serving on them may be required to determine politically sensitive challenges.

The CJN’s warning therefore places particular emphasis on impartiality, restraint and detachment as judges prepare for the possibility of tribunal assignments.

For judges who may be selected, the message extends beyond how they conduct hearings and deliver decisions. Their public engagements and associations may also attract scrutiny if they create a perception of political alignment.

The focus, as presented by the CJN, is on protecting confidence in the judicial process as politically sensitive disputes come before the courts.

The Judiciary Must Remain Prepared For Emerging Challenges

Kekere-Ekun also said the judiciary must continue to strengthen its intellectual capacity as it responds to emerging challenges.

She stressed that judicial decisions must remain grounded in the Constitution, applicable laws, binding precedents and established principles of judicial reasoning.

That emphasis places legal reasoning and established judicial principles at the centre of the judiciary’s response to increasingly complex cases.

It also forms part of the broader message delivered by the CJN: judges, lawyers and other stakeholders have responsibilities that extend beyond individual cases to the credibility and functioning of the judicial system.

What To Watch Ahead Of The 2027 Elections

As the 2027 general elections approach, attention will increasingly turn to the legal institutions that may handle disputes arising from the electoral process.

The possibility of judges serving on election petition tribunals means the standards highlighted by the CJN — impartiality, restraint, detachment and adherence to law — are likely to remain central to discussions about the judiciary’s role during the electoral period.

The CJN’s remarks also place responsibility on lawyers and other stakeholders to use established judicial and institutional channels rather than attempting to influence proceedings through strategic court filings or public pressure.

For the judiciary, the broader challenge will be to maintain decisions grounded in constitutional and legal principles while handling disputes that are likely to attract significant public and political attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the CJN warn election tribunal judges about?

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun warned judges who may serve on election petition tribunals to maintain impartiality, restraint and political detachment.

Why did the CJN raise concerns about political alignment?

She said judges’ associations, public engagements and other conduct should not create a reasonable perception of political alignment or predisposition.

What did the CJN say about lawyers filing cases in different courts?

She cautioned lawyers against duplicating court actions in ways that could result in conflicting judgments, saying the appropriate forum should be determined by law.

Can people criticise judicial decisions?

The CJN said parties have the right to criticise judgments and judicial processes, but such criticism should not become personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of proceedings or attempts to pressure courts through public opinion.

How should concerns about judicial conduct be addressed?

Kekere-Ekun said genuine concerns about judicial conduct should be pursued through the appropriate institutional channels.

What did the CJN say about judicial decision-making?

She said judicial decisions should remain grounded in the Constitution, applicable laws, binding precedents and established principles of judicial reasoning.

Conclusion

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s warning places judicial impartiality at the centre of preparations for a period in which election-related disputes could bring considerable attention to the courts.

Her message extends beyond judges who may serve on election tribunals. Lawyers and other stakeholders have also been urged to respect judicial processes, exercise restraint in public commentary and use established institutional channels when concerns arise.

As the country moves toward the 2027 electoral period, the CJN’s emphasis is clear: politically sensitive disputes must be handled through established legal processes, with judicial decisions grounded in law and judges maintaining the impartiality expected of the office.