Breaking: 375 Judges Inaugurated to Handle 2027 Election Petitions

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has inaugurated 375 judges who will handle election petitions arising from Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The judges were sworn in on Monday at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, less than 70 days before the general elections, as preparations intensify for possible legal disputes following the presidential, governorship and legislative polls.

The inauguration is part of the constitutional responsibility of the President of the Court of Appeal to constitute election petition tribunals to adjudicate disputes arising from elections into the National and State Houses of Assembly, as well as governorship elections.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dongban-Mensem described the exercise as an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and ensuring that electoral disputes are handled fairly and within the timeframe stipulated by law.

She stressed that the credibility of elections depended not only on the conduct of the polls but also on the judiciary’s ability to deliver impartial, transparent and timely judgments on electoral disputes.

According to her, the judiciary plays a vital role in protecting the mandate of voters, upholding constitutional order and sustaining public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.

The Court of Appeal President disclosed that 138 of the 375 judges had previously served on election petition tribunals, while the remaining 237 were newly selected for the assignment.

She urged the judges to approach their responsibilities with integrity, fairness and caution, noting that their conduct and decisions would attract considerable public attention because of the sensitive nature of election-related cases.

Dongban-Mensem further emphasised the importance of judicial independence and professionalism in ensuring that all parties involved in election disputes receive fair treatment in accordance with the law.

The inauguration marks another major step in the judiciary’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly in ensuring that disputes arising from the electoral process are resolved within the constitutionally prescribed period.

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