The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has inaugurated members of the Election Petition Tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them to resist political pressure and intimidation.
She gave the warning on Monday during the inauguration ceremony at the Body of Benchers Auditorium in Abuja.
The event also featured the unveiling of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual and a specialised training workshop for judges and tribunal members. 
According to Channels Television, Kekere-Ekun urged the judges to remain committed to their judicial oaths and deliver justice fairly as the country prepares for another election season.
She stressed that constitutional and legal deadlines for handling election petitions must be respected, warning that unnecessary delays and poor case management would not be acceptable.
The CJN also appealed to lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public to avoid misconduct, misuse of ex parte applications and online activities designed to influence pending cases or threaten judicial officers.
She said protecting the country’s democracy required the cooperation of all institutions involved in the electoral process.
Kekere-Ekun specifically urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and legal practitioners to carry out their duties responsibly.
However, she maintained that the judiciary must handle election disputes based strictly on the law and evidence presented before the courts.
The CJN also announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections would take place on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said election petition tribunals played a vital role in resolving political disagreements and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan made the remarks at a three-day training programme for justices and tribunal members in Abuja.
He described the tribunals as important constitutional institutions for reducing political tensions and ensuring that disputes were settled under the rule of law.
The INEC chairman also drew attention to new challenges facing election litigation, particularly the growing use of technology and digital misinformation.
He identified the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and INEC Result Viewing Portal as tools that had improved transparency in elections.
However, he warned that the judiciary must be prepared to deal with emerging threats, including artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and false information.
The inauguration and training programme come as preparations gather momentum for the 2027 general elections, with the tribunals expected to handle disputes arising from the polls.
