The President of the Court of Appeal has inaugurated 375 judges to serve on the election petition tribunals until 2027.
There are 68 days until the 2027 general election, and the judges will likely be the ones to resolve any conflicts that emerge.
In the wake of potential petitions made by disgruntled political parties and candidates nationwide in the 2027 general election, the judges were inaugurated on Monday at Abuja’s Body of Benchers Complex.
The actions are in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as revised, specifically Section 285(1) and (2), which grant the authority to the President of the Court of Appeal to form election petition tribunals for the purpose of resolving conflicts that may arise from elections for the National and State Houses of Assembly, as well as for the office of governor.
Similarly, the Electoral Act 2026 specifies the deadlines for the establishment of the tribunals and the opening of their registers in Section 134(3)(a) and (b).
Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, spoke during the inauguration and said that the exercise proved the judiciary’s dedication to constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the legitimacy of Nigeria’s voting system.
In her view, the inauguration marked a watershed moment in the institution’s preparation to handle conflicts stemming from the electoral process.
This is not just a formality; it is a necessary institutional step toward fulfilling one of the highest-ranking duties bestowed upon the judiciary.
Elections and the availability of fair, efficient, and quick processes for settling election disputes are two pillars upon which the legitimacy of democracy rests.
“By fairly resolving such conflicts, the Judiciary protects the will of the people, maintains the supremacy of the constitution, and keeps public faith in democratic rule,” Dongban-Mensem stated.
The head of the appellate court reminded the justices that the public will be watching their every move and urged them to be fair and honest in their work.
The 375 judicial officers, she revealed, were hand-picked from various courts and organisations around the nation.
While 237 of the judges were appointed for the first time, 138 have served on election petition tribunals before, according to her.