CJN Kekere-Ekun tells judges to resist pressure as 2027 election cases loom
- Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun told heads of courts to guard against forum shopping and conflicting orders ahead of the 2027 elections.
- She spoke in Abuja at the National Judicial Institute's 2026 roundtable for heads of courts.
- She also asked judges to sit on time and notify lawyers promptly when sittings are cancelled.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has asked judges, especially heads of courts, to be watchful as the country moves towards the 2027 general election, warning that political cases will put the courts under heavy public pressure.
She spoke in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the 2026 roundtable for heads of courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
The CJN named three practices she said damage the courts: forum shopping (shopping for a friendly court), hiding related cases from a judge, and trying to get conflicting orders from courts of the same level.
Why it matters to ordinary Nigerians
Election disputes often decide who governs states and the country. When courts issue conflicting orders or cases drag on for years, public trust in the outcome falls, and the cost of litigation and uncertainty is carried by voters and litigants alike.
Justice Kekere-Ekun said political sensitivity or the urgency of a matter must never replace careful application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and court rules.
"No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision," she said.
She asked heads of courts to put administrative arrangements in place so election-related matters are handled quickly and in order, and to resist any attempt to use urgent applications or ex-parte orders (orders made without hearing the other side) to gain an unfair advantage.
On delays, the CJN said they impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants and weaken confidence in the justice system. She blamed some of the problem on poor case management, repeated adjournments, bad scheduling and failure to track inactive cases, while noting that funding, infrastructure and manpower also play a part.
She directed heads of courts to know the state of their dockets, including how many cases are pending, their age and why they are stuck.
The CJN also described as unacceptable the situation where lawyers and parties travel long distances at great expense only to learn on arrival that the court will not sit. Registries, she said, must have clear procedures for notifying people when sittings are cancelled.
On appointments, she urged heads of courts to resist external pressure and pick judges on merit, competence and character.
Earlier, the NJI Administrator, retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said the judiciary is under constant public scrutiny and that the roundtable was designed to let heads of courts lead the discussions themselves. He praised the CJN for reforms he said had strengthened judicial independence.
What happens next
The roundtable is a meeting of court leaders, not a policy announcement, so any changes will show in how courts list, hear and rule on election cases as the 2027 campaigns gather pace.
