Nigeria: Appeal Court President Inaugurates 375 Judges for 2027 Election Petitions

The judiciary has inaugurated 375 judges to handle disputes that may arise from the 2027 general election.

The judges were inaugurated on Monday at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, ahead of the elections scheduled to hold in 68 days.

Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the Court of Appeal, said the credibility of the electoral process would depend partly on how fairly and promptly the courts resolve disputes arising from the polls.

“The credibility of democracy depends not only on the conduct of elections but also on the existence of impartial, effective and timely mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes,” she said.

She described the inauguration as an institutional preparation for the judiciary’s responsibility in safeguarding the electoral process.

“Through the fair determination of such disputes, the judiciary safeguards the people’s mandate, upholds constitutional supremacy and sustains public confidence in democratic governance,” she said.

Dongban-Mensem said the judges were drawn from different courts and judicial institutions across the country.

Of the 375 judges, 138 previously served on election petition tribunals, while 237 are new nominees.

She cautioned the judges against conduct that could undermine public confidence in the judiciary, saying their actions would attract considerable public scrutiny.

Under section 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, the president of the Court of Appeal is responsible for constituting tribunals to adjudicate disputes arising from national, state houses of assembly, and governorship elections.

Section 134(3)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, also provides for timelines governing the constitution of the tribunals and the opening of their registries.