*Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
As Nigeria inches towards the 2027 general elections, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a stark warning to judges, urging them to resist practices that erode public confidence in the judiciary, an institution increasingly seen as the ultimate decider of electoral contests.
In a country where election outcomes frequently end up in courtrooms and where judicial pronouncements have, on several occasions, overturned ballot results, elevating candidates who initially lost at the polls or even failed to emerge from valid party primaries, the CJN stressed the need for judges to uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, Justice Kekere-Ekun warned against forum shopping, concealment of related cases and attempts by litigants to secure conflicting judgments from courts of equal jurisdiction.
With election petitions expected to dominate judicial dockets as 2027 approaches, she noted that the judiciary would once again find itself under intense scrutiny and immense political pressure.
“The judiciary must be prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with impartiality, courage and fidelity to the law,” she said, insisting that political considerations, public sentiment and manufactured urgency must never override the Constitution, the Electoral Act and established judicial procedures.
The CJN urged heads of courts to put robust administrative measures in place to ensure election disputes are handled promptly and transparently. She cautioned judges against being used as instruments for political manoeuvring through ex parte applications and hurried court orders designed to confer unfair advantages.
According to her, “No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision.”
She singled out forum shopping as one of the most dangerous threats to judicial credibility, warning that it encourages abuse of court processes, creates contradictory rulings and fuels public suspicion about the integrity of the justice system.
Her remarks come against the backdrop of longstanding public debate over the growing influence of courts in determining electoral outcomes. Critics have often argued that in Nigeria, elections are increasingly decided not only by voters at polling units but also by judges in courtrooms.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasised that courts must remain neutral arbiters guided solely by facts, evidence and the law, free from political pressure or partisan interests.
The CJN also identified delays in the administration of justice as a major challenge, noting that prolonged litigation imposes emotional and financial burdens on litigants, weakens the effectiveness of judicial remedies and damages confidence in the legal system.
On courtroom conduct, she reminded judges that authority is best exercised through fairness, respect and professionalism.
“Every litigant, regardless of status or means, deserves dignity, while lawyers are entitled to courteous treatment. Firmness and courtesy are entirely compatible,” she said.
Earlier, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo (rtd.), observed that the judiciary remains under constant public scrutiny and therefore carries the responsibility of safeguarding its reputation.
He described the annual roundtable as an opportunity for judicial leaders to confront systemic challenges and develop collective solutions, while commending the CJN for reforms aimed at strengthening judicial independence and integrity.
As political actors begin positioning for 2027, the CJN’s warning underscores a crucial reality: in a democracy where court rulings have repeatedly rewritten electoral outcomes, the credibility of both elections and the judiciary may face their toughest test yet.
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