CJN warning on 2027 election cases highlights judicial independence, conflicting court orders, timely hearings and public confidence in Nigeria’s courts
Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday, 26 October 2026, urged judges and heads of courts to exercise heightened vigilance in politically sensitive cases ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against forum shopping, concealed related proceedings and attempts to secure conflicting court orders at the opening of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts in Abuja.
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The Chief Justice stressed that judicial decisions must remain grounded in the Constitution, the Electoral Act and established court procedures, irrespective of political pressure or public sentiment.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s intervention, delivered at the event organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), comes as Nigeria’s political landscape moves towards another election cycle, a period in which disputes over party leadership, candidate selection and electoral processes can place considerable demands on the courts.
The warning reflects a broader concern that the judiciary must preserve its independence while resolving disputes fairly and within the time allowed by law.
“The Judiciary must be prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with impartiality, courage and fidelity to the law,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said.
She cautioned that the political sensitivity of a case, the strength of public opinion or the urgency claimed by an applicant must never replace careful legal scrutiny.
Judges, she said, should demand full disclosure of relevant facts, consider related proceedings and resist attempts to use urgent applications or orders made without hearing the other side to obtain an improper advantage.
The Chief Justice described forum shopping, in which litigants seek a favourable outcome by approaching different courts or exploiting procedural avenues, as particularly damaging to judicial credibility.
She warned that the practice could undermine consistency, encourage abuse of court processes and expose the judiciary to avoidable public controversy.
“No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision,” she said, adding that public confidence in the judiciary would be tested during the coming electoral period.
The message places considerable responsibility on heads of courts, who are expected to establish appropriate administrative arrangements for managing election-related litigation. The objective, Justice Kekere-Ekun explained, is to ensure that disputes are resolved competently, expeditiously and strictly in accordance with the law, without political considerations influencing judicial outcomes.
The warning also builds on concerns raised earlier in October. At the opening of the Supreme Court’s 2026/2027 legal year on 12 October, Justice Kekere-Ekun cautioned lawyers against forum shopping and the filing of multiple suits seeking substantially similar reliefs.
She warned that such practices could produce conflicting decisions and undermine the administration of justice.
The renewed message to heads of courts broadens the focus from the professional responsibilities of lawyers to the institutional safeguards required to manage politically sensitive proceedings.
Beyond electoral litigation, the Chief Justice addressed persistent delays in the administration of justice, describing timely case determination as one of the judiciary’s most pressing challenges.
Prolonged proceedings, she noted, impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants, reduce the practical value of legal remedies and weaken confidence in the justice system.
Justice Kekere-Ekun acknowledged that some delays arise from inadequate funding, infrastructure and judicial manpower.
However, she also pointed to administrative weaknesses, including inefficient docket management, repeated adjournments, poor scheduling and insufficient monitoring of inactive cases.
She urged every head of court to maintain a clear picture of pending cases, their age, the categories experiencing the greatest delays and the reasons for their continued pendency.
Such information, she said, should guide realistic plans to reduce backlogs, allocate hearing dates more effectively and ensure that concluded matters are removed promptly from active dockets.
The Chief Justice also cautioned against measuring efficiency solely by the number of cases disposed of.
Speed, she emphasised, must not come at the expense of fairness, competence or the constitutional right to a fair hearing.
Judicial appointments formed another important part of her address. Justice Kekere-Ekun called on heads of courts to protect the appointment process from external influence, insisting that selection should be transparent, fair and based on merit.
She urged judicial leaders to consider candidates’ competence, character and suitability for judicial office while strengthening professional standards and accountability across the institution.
The emphasis on merit reflects the wider challenge of maintaining public trust in a judiciary whose decisions can have far-reaching political and constitutional consequences.
The Chief Justice also turned attention to the everyday experiences of people who use the courts, directing heads of courts to establish reliable procedures that ensure judges sit on time and that lawyers and litigants receive prompt notice when hearings are cancelled.
She described it as unacceptable for parties and legal practitioners to travel long distances at considerable expense only to discover that a scheduled hearing will not take place.
Court registries, she said, should clearly identify the officers responsible for notifying affected parties, the communication channels to be used and the procedures for confirming that notifications have been received.
Her comments underscored a practical dimension of judicial reform: public confidence depends not only on the quality of judgments but also on the way courts conduct their daily business.
On courtroom behaviour, Justice Kekere-Ekun said judicial authority should be exercised with fairness, composure and respect. Every litigant, regardless of social standing, financial means or educational background, deserves dignity, while lawyers are entitled to courteous treatment.
“Firmness and courtesy are entirely compatible. A judge can control proceedings without humiliating counsel or a litigant,” she said.
She further called on court leaders to maintain professional working environments free from bullying and harassment.
The Chief Justice urged sustained investment in court personnel, including registrars, researchers, administrative officers and information technology staff, whose work supports the effective operation of the justice system.
She also advocated structured mentorship programmes under which newly appointed judges would work with experienced judicial officers for a defined period before sitting independently.
Such arrangements, she indicated, could help strengthen professional judgement, institutional knowledge and consistency in judicial practice.
Speaking earlier at the roundtable, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the judiciary remained under constant public scrutiny as the custodian of justice and guardian of the rule of law.
He stressed the responsibility of those managing the courts to protect the institution’s reputation and contribute to positive public perceptions of the justice system.
Justice Adejumo explained that the programme had been designed to give heads of courts substantial room to lead discussions, identify shared challenges and determine practical outcomes, with minimal external intervention.
The roundtable therefore addresses a range of interconnected concerns, from the handling of election disputes to case backlogs, judicial appointments, courtroom conduct and administrative accountability.
Together, these issues highlight the challenge of ensuring that judicial independence is supported by dependable procedures and effective court management.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, Justice Kekere-Ekun’s warning places impartiality and procedural discipline at the centre of preparations for a potentially demanding period of electoral litigation.
The credibility of the courts will depend not simply on the principles expressed at the roundtable, but on how consistently those principles are applied when contentious cases reach the courtroom.
For litigants, lawyers and the wider public, the central expectation is straightforward: disputes must be heard fairly, decisions must follow the law, and access to justice must not be undermined by avoidable delays or procedural manipulation.
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