CJN Kekere-Ekun Urges Judges to Avoid Political Bias

At the 2026 Legal Year event of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kekere-Ekun, warned judges against engaging with political parties to maintain their impartiality ahead of the 2027 general elections. He highlighted the potential for heightened political activity and disputes arising from elections, which could significantly affect individuals and political entities.

Kekere-Ekun stressed that judges must exhibit calmness and fidelity to the law, as their actions and words will be scrutinized during this period. He also called for greater professional responsibility from lawyers involved in political and electoral disputes, cautioning against practices like forum shopping that could undermine the judicial process.

The Chief Justice expressed concern that an overwhelming number of political cases could delay other legitimate claims in the courts, urging counsel to respect existing proceedings and the jurisdiction of other courts.