Stay Neutral — CJN Sends Strong Message To Judges Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned judges against political associations or conduct that could undermine public confidence in their impartiality ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the Supreme Court’s 2026 Legal Year, stressing that judicial officers must remain neutral when handling disputes involving political parties, candidates and electoral processes.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the CJN noted that election-related cases often attract intense political pressure because of their potential consequences for individuals, political parties and the country. She urged judges to remain calm, uphold the law and avoid any behaviour that could suggest political bias.

She emphasised that judicial officers must recognise that their words and actions during the election period would attract public scrutiny.

The CJN also called on legal practitioners to uphold professional standards when handling political and electoral disputes, particularly by avoiding forum shopping, a practice in which litigants seek favourable courts or institute similar cases in different jurisdictions.

According to her, such practices can result in conflicting court orders, weaken the administration of justice and create the impression that litigants are attempting to secure predetermined outcomes rather than pursue justice through established legal procedures.

Kekere-Ekun urged lawyers to disclose related cases pending before other courts and respect the jurisdiction and proceedings of those courts. She warned that the increasing volume of election-related litigation could also delay the resolution of other cases awaiting judicial attention.

She maintained that the urgency attached to political disputes should not deprive other litigants of timely access to justice.

The head of the judiciary further stressed the need to safeguard the integrity of judicial appointments, describing the responsibilities of the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission as critical to maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

She explained that recent appointment processes had incorporated structured assessments, professional and peer feedback, background checks and opportunities for public input on the integrity and professional reputation of shortlisted candidates.

However, she cautioned against turning the process into a platform for public condemnation or settling personal and professional disputes, insisting that any concerns must be addressed responsibly.

Kekere-Ekun also expressed concern over the increasing use of social media to threaten, ridicule, harass and attack members of the legal profession. She urged individuals with complaints about court judgments, professional misconduct or the conduct of judicial officers and lawyers to use established channels for seeking redress.

“The administration of justice cannot be left to anger, intimidation or trial by social media,” she said.

She added that judges must be able to make decisions without fear of retaliation, while lawyers should be free to present legitimate arguments without intimidation. Court staff, she noted, must equally be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without harassment.

Meanwhile, the CJN disclosed that the Supreme Court handled 2,456 matters and delivered 411 judgments during the 2025/2026 Legal Year.

The matters included 1,179 general civil motions, 573 criminal motions, 13 Sharia-related motions and 676 appeals. The appeals comprised 433 general civil appeals, 212 criminal appeals, 19 political appeals, 12 Sharia appeals and 10 originating summons.

She compared the figures with the preceding Legal Year, when the court handled 2,280 matters and delivered 369 judgments and rulings.

Although she described the court’s performance as encouraging, Kekere-Ekun acknowledged that more work remained to be done to reduce delays and address the growing number of pending cases.

She recalled that during the previous Legal Year’s opening, she had highlighted the need for deliberate case-management strategies to improve efficiency and clear outstanding matters.

As part of the measures introduced, the CJN disclosed that the E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular court sittings between March 23 and December 17, 2026. The cases comprised 1,021 motions and 364 appeals, including 733 older matters deliberately prioritised for hearing.

She added that the court disposed of 178 dormant matters in Chambers and identified 125 cases that had already been concluded, removing them from the active caseload.

Kekere-Ekun said the measures were intended to strengthen case management, reduce unnecessary delays and ensure that pending cases receive appropriate attention.

Her remarks come as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, placing renewed focus on judicial independence, professional responsibility and the courts’ role in resolving electoral disputes fairly and efficiently.