ABUJA (Sundiata Post)– The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday swore in members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 basic elections, “alerting judicial officers versus political pressure and intimidation.”.
The CJN provided the caution at the swearing in of members and a capacity-building workshop arranged by the Court of Appeal.
3 hundred and seventy-five judges took the oath of workplace as members of the 2027 election petition tribunals.
She stated that false information, intimidation and tries to bias pending procedures had no location in a society governed by the guideline of law.
‘The public airing of accusations, declarations on the benefits of pending cases or efforts to prejudge judicial results can develop unneeded stress and weaken public self-confidence in the administration of justice.
‘This duty encompasses using social networks, whose reach and immediacy can enhance commentary on pending election conflicts.
‘While residents are entitled to reveal their views and take part in public discourse, that liberty ought to be worked out properly and with due regard for the stability of judicial procedures.
‘The blood circulation of unproven accusations, selective accounts of court procedures and online projects directed at judicial officers can misshape public understanding and motivate the understanding that cases are to be figured out by public belief instead of by the proof and the law.
‘Members of the general public and media organisations must for that reason work out care in sharing details and talking about matters before the courts.
‘Criticism of judicial choices, when notified and properly revealed, is a genuine function of democratic discourse; nevertheless, false information, intimidation and tries to bias pending procedures have no location in a society governed by the guideline of law,” she stated.
The CJN likewise warned attorneys versus submitting numerous matches and looking for clashing court orders in election-related conflicts ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
She even more cautioned judges dealing with 2027 election petitions versus jeopardizing reasonable hearing in their quote to provide fast justice.
Kekere-Ekun who offered the keynote address at the opening event stated such practices, consisting of making use of ex parte applications to protect tactical benefits, might bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
She warned that the seriousness of election petitions need to not be utilized as a reason to jeopardize the right of any celebration to reasonable hearing, worrying the requirement to stabilize exploration with fairness.
She advised judges to make sure rigorous compliance with constitutional and statutory timelines while securing the right of every celebration to reasonable hearing.
“The seriousness of these matters, nevertheless, need to never ever end up being a reason for jeopardizing the right of any celebration to a reasonable hearing,” she stated.
Kekere-Ekun prompted the judges carrying out the project to stay assisted by their judicial oath, guts and impartiality, regardless of public expectations or pressure.
She likewise urged legal professionals to approach election lawsuits with professionalism and candour, worrying that their responsibility extended beyond advancing customers’ interests to appreciating the administration of justice.
“The responsibility of a legal professional is not simply to advance the interests of a customer, however to do so within the bounds of expert principles and regard for the administration of justice,” she stated.
She likewise warned political celebrations, prospects and their fans versus actions efficient in daunting judicial officers or weakening self-confidence in the adjudicatory procedure.
Kekere-Ekun alerted public authorities versus making discuss pending cases, stating declarations on their benefits or efforts to prejudge judicial results might produce unneeded stress.
She even more prompted residents and media organisations to work out care in their usage of social networks, especially in sharing unproven claims and discussing pending election disagreements.
According to her, online projects directed at judicial officers might misshape public understanding and develop the impression that cases were identified by public belief instead of proof and law.
The CJN stated election adjudication needed perseverance, guts, even-handedness and restraint, offered the extreme public examination and significant repercussions of tribunal choices.
The CJN stated trustworthy elections needed the cumulative obligation of electoral management bodies, political celebrations, security firms, legal specialists and the judiciary.
Speaking, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi stated the way in which electoral disagreements were adjudicated frequently identified whether political contests were in harmony dealt with within constitutional order or came down into unpredictability and discord.
Fagbemi stated the efficiency of the tribunals depended not just on the skills of judicial members however likewise on the effectiveness of their computer system registries and quality of administrative assistance.
He stated the visit of registrars must not be dealt with as regular administrative posts, worrying the requirement for people with the requisite experience, proficiency and administrative capability.
According to him, unskilled or improperly geared up registrars might negatively impact the smooth and prompt conduct of procedures, regardless of the skills of tribunal members.
Fagbemi advised the judges to stay directed by the constitution, the Electoral Act and concepts of justice, worrying the requirement for sound legal analysis and readily available proof.
He stated the Electoral Act 2026 presented reforms focused on reinforcing electoral openness, promoting internal celebration democracy, modernising electoral administration and redefining the structure for electoral disagreements.
According to him, the effect of the reforms would depend upon efficient enforcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), compliance by political celebrations and judicial analysis.
The three-day workshop, themed: “Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability” likewise included the official discussion of the 2nd edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual by the CJN.
The handbook is meant to supply judicial officers with upgraded constitutional arrangements, electoral legislation, practice instructions, and judicial choices appropriate to the decision of election petitions.
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