The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has cautioned judges and lawyers against conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
She urged judicial officers to handle political and electoral disputes with impartiality, restraint and strict adherence to the law, warning that their conduct and decisions would come under intense public scrutiny.
Kekere-Ekun gave the warning on Monday at a special session of the Supreme Court in Abuja to mark the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year.
She said electoral contests often generated heightened political activity and strong emotions, resulting in disputes with far-reaching consequences for individuals, political parties and the country.
She urged judges to avoid political associations and conduct capable of creating an impression of bias, noting that even the appearance of partiality could damage public trust in the judicial system.
Kekere-Ekun also expressed concern over the practice of forum shopping, whereby litigants deliberately institute cases in courts or divisions perceived to be favourable to their interests or file multiple suits seeking substantially similar reliefs.
According to her, such practices could generate conflicting court orders, disrupt the orderly administration of justice and expose the judiciary to avoidable embarrassment.
She warned that forum shopping could create the impression that litigants were seeking favourable outcomes from particular courts rather than pursuing justice in accordance with the law.
The Supreme Court chief further warned against allowing the growing volume of political litigation to undermine the timely determination of other cases.
She said the judiciary must remain accessible to all litigants, adding that the urgency or public prominence of electoral disputes should not result in other legitimate claims being neglected or delayed.
Kekere-Ekun maintained that the administration of justice required a balance between addressing politically sensitive disputes and ensuring that all other cases received the attention they deserved.
Her warning comes as political parties and their aspirants prepare for the 2027 general elections, a period expected to generate legal disputes over party primaries, candidate selection and other electoral processes.
She stressed the need for judges and lawyers to uphold professional standards and constitutional principles to preserve the credibility of the judiciary and strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice.