Political parties have urged the 375 judges inaugurated to handle election petitions ahead of the 2027 general elections to demonstrate impartiality, resist political interference and protect the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
While the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed confidence in the judiciary’s role, the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement called for closer monitoring of the judicial officers, citing concerns about public trust in election dispute resolution.
The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), meanwhile, said it hoped the outcome of the elections would be determined by voters rather than court proceedings.
The judges were inaugurated on Monday by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, ahead of the 2027 polls. They are expected to adjudicate disputes arising from National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections.
Speaking on behalf of the APC, the party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the judiciary must demonstrate its independence by ensuring that complaints of electoral injustice were handled fairly.
He said the judges needed to address allegations of political collusion involving the ruling party and the judiciary by delivering decisions that would strengthen public confidence in the institution.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Muhammad, also urged the judges to reject financial inducements and ensure that justice was not only done but seen to have been done.
Muhammad said the conduct of the tribunals would be critical to protecting democracy and restoring confidence in the judiciary.
The Labour Party took a more cautious position, with its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, calling on the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to establish concrete measures for monitoring the judges.
Asogwa argued that public admonitions alone would not be enough to guarantee judicial accountability, insisting that the judiciary must act as a safeguard against political excesses and violations of voters’ rights.
The Obidient Movement’s Director of Media and Communications, Onyeka Dike, was more critical, alleging that Nigerians had lost confidence in the judiciary’s handling of electoral disputes.
Dike argued that the need to prepare tribunals for the 2027 elections reflected an excessive reliance on litigation instead of credible electoral processes. He also alleged political interference in judicial decisions and called for transparent transmission of results, protection of votes and respect for voters’ choices.
He warned against any attempt to manipulate the elections and subsequently use court rulings to legitimise electoral fraud.
The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said his party hoped that Nigerians would determine the outcome of the elections at polling units, although he acknowledged that disputes could arise from legislative and governorship contests.
At the inauguration, Dongban-Mensem said the exercise reflected a collective commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The tribunals are expected to hear petitions arising from the 2027 general elections under the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act, 2026.
2027 Elections: Parties Challenge 375 Tribunal Judges to Uphold Justice
