The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judicial officers against associating with political parties or engaging in activities capable of compromising their impartiality in the adjudication of disputes arising from the 2027 general elections.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday in Abuja at the commencement of the 2026 Legal Year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, urging judges to uphold the Constitution and maintain public confidence in the judiciary during the electoral period.
She noted that elections often generate intense political activities and emotions, resulting in disputes with far-reaching implications for individuals, political parties and the country.
“The judiciary must approach such matters with the same calmness, detachment and fidelity to the law that it brings to every other dispute,” she said.
The CJN stressed that judicial officers must exercise restraint and avoid political associations or conduct that could create an impression of bias, warning that their actions and utterances during the election period would be closely scrutinised.
She also urged lawyers to exercise professionalism in filing political and electoral cases, particularly by avoiding forum shopping and the institution of multiple proceedings seeking substantially similar reliefs.
According to her, such practices could lead to conflicting court orders, disrupt judicial proceedings and undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Kekere-Ekun warned that the excessive concentration of political disputes in the courts could also delay the determination of other legitimate cases awaiting judicial attention.
“The judiciary must remain available to all litigants, and the urgency or public prominence of political litigation should not come at the expense of other legitimate claims awaiting determination,” she said.
She urged lawyers to disclose related cases pending before other courts and respect established judicial processes, emphasising that their responsibilities extended beyond securing favourable outcomes for clients to safeguarding the integrity of the justice system.
On judicial appointments, the CJN called for the protection of processes handled by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), describing the selection of judicial officers as a critical responsibility that must inspire public confidence.
She said the appointment process had been strengthened through structured assessments, professional and peer feedback, background checks and opportunities for public comments on the integrity and professional reputation of shortlisted candidates.
However, she warned against using the process to settle personal disputes or professional grievances, stressing that public participation must not degenerate into trial by publicity.
The CJN also expressed concern over the growing use of social media to attack, ridicule, threaten and harass judicial officers and legal practitioners.
She maintained that appropriate channels existed for criticising judgments, reporting professional misconduct and lodging complaints against judicial officers and lawyers.
“The administration of justice cannot be left to anger, intimidation or trial by social media,” she said, adding that judges must be able to perform their duties without fear of retaliation.
Meanwhile, Kekere-Ekun described the Supreme Court's performance during the 2025/2026 Legal Year as encouraging, although she acknowledged that more work remained to be done to address delays and pending cases.
She disclosed that the court handled 2,456 matters during the period and delivered 411 judgments.
The cases comprised 1,179 general civil motions, 573 criminal motions, 13 Sharia-related motions and 676 appeals.
The appeals included 433 general civil appeals, 212 criminal appeals, 19 political appeals, 12 Sharia appeals and 10 originating summons.
She said the figures represented an increase from the preceding Legal Year, when the court handled 2,280 matters and delivered 369 judgments and rulings.
The CJN further disclosed that the court had intensified efforts to improve case management and reduce its backlog.
According to her, the E-Diary Office scheduled 1,385 matters for regular court sittings between March 23 and December 17, 2026, comprising 1,021 motions and 364 appeals.
Of the scheduled matters, 733 were old cases brought forward for hearing, while 178 moribund matters were disposed of in chambers. Another 125 cases that had already been concluded were identified and removed from the active caseload.
She said the measures were part of ongoing efforts to improve judicial efficiency, reduce delays and ensure that cases receive timely attention.
