Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges against allowing political pressure, public sentiment or the urgency of election-related cases to influence their decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She also cautioned judicial officers against forum shopping, concealing related court proceedings and seeking conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, warning that such practices undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday at the opening of the 2026 roundtable for Heads of Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
She said election-related disputes often attract intense public interest and place considerable pressure on the courts, making impartiality and strict adherence to the law essential.
According to the CJN, judicial officers must discharge their constitutional responsibilities with courage, fairness and commitment to the law, regardless of the political interests involved.
“The judiciary must be prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with impartiality, courage and fidelity to the law.
“Political sensitivity, public sentiment or the urgency with which a matter is presented must never displace the careful application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the applicable rules of court,” she said.
The CJN urged Heads of Courts to put appropriate administrative measures in place to ensure that election-related cases are handled promptly, fairly and in accordance with established judicial procedures.
She also called on judges to scrutinise applications carefully, demand full disclosure of relevant facts and consider related proceedings before granting orders.
Kekere-Ekun warned against the misuse of urgent applications and ex-parte orders to gain an unfair advantage in political disputes, stressing that courts must not become instruments for advancing partisan interests.
“The integrity of judicial proceedings must not be compromised by competing political interests or pressure from any quarter,” she said.
She described forum shopping as particularly damaging because it undermines consistency in judicial decisions, encourages abuse of court processes and exposes the judiciary to avoidable public controversy.
The CJN insisted that no litigant should be allowed to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable ruling, urging Heads of Courts to enforce procedural safeguards and address attempts to circumvent established processes.
She said public confidence in the judiciary would face a critical test as the country approached another election season, adding that judges must remain impartial arbiters guided by facts, the law and the demands of justice.
Kekere-Ekun further charged Heads of Courts to provide the leadership required to ensure that election-related disputes are handled competently, efficiently and without political interference.
Earlier, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice Babatunde Adejumo (retd.), said the judiciary remained under constant public scrutiny because of its responsibility to uphold justice and protect the rule of law.
Adejumo, a former President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, said the annual roundtable provided an opportunity for Heads of Courts to discuss common challenges, exchange ideas and develop practical solutions to issues affecting the administration of justice.
He explained that the programme was designed to give judicial leaders greater control over discussions and outcomes, with minimal external intervention.
Adejumo also commended Kekere-Ekun for reforms he said had strengthened judicial independence and promoted integrity across the judiciary.