The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged judges, particularly heads of courts, to guard against forum shopping, concealment of related proceedings and attempts to obtain conflicting orders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kekere-Ekun said election-related disputes often attract intense public interest and considerable pressure on the courts, requiring judicial officers to remain impartial and strictly adhere to the law.
She spoke in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the 2026 Roundtable for Heads of Courts, organised by the National Judicial Institute.
The CJN said the judiciary must be prepared to handle politically sensitive cases without allowing public sentiment or pressure from any quarter to influence judicial decisions.
“The judiciary must be prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibilities with impartiality, courage and fidelity to the law.
“Political sensitivity, public sentiment or the urgency with which a matter is presented must never displace the careful application of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the applicable rules of court,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun urged heads of courts to establish appropriate administrative arrangements for the timely and orderly handling of election-related cases.
“Judicial officers must be reminded of the need to scrutinise applications carefully, insist on full and frank disclosure of relevant facts, pay due regard to related proceedings and resist any attempt to use urgent applications or ex parte orders to secure an improper advantage.
“The integrity of judicial proceedings must not be compromised by competing political interests or pressure from any quarter,” she added.
The CJN described forum shopping as particularly damaging to the judiciary, warning that the practice undermined consistency, encouraged abuse of court processes, and exposed the institution to avoidable public controversy.
“Your Lordships must therefore ensure that existing procedural safeguards are observed and that appropriate steps are taken whenever attempts to circumvent established judicial processes come to light.
“No litigant should be permitted to manipulate the judicial system in search of a favourable decision. Public confidence in the judiciary will be tested during this period,” she said.
She reminded heads of courts of their responsibility to ensure that election-related cases were handled competently, expeditiously and strictly in accordance with the law.
The CJN also expressed concern over delays in the determination of cases, describing timely justice delivery as one of the most pressing challenges confronting the judiciary.
According to her, delays impose financial and emotional burdens on litigants, diminish the practical value of judicial remedies and weaken public confidence in the justice system.
“While some causes of delay arise from inadequate funding, infrastructure and judicial manpower, others can be addressed through effective administration.
“Inefficient docket management, repeated adjournments, poor scheduling and failure to monitor inactive cases can prolong proceedings unnecessarily,” she said.
Kekere-Ekun urged heads of courts to monitor their caseloads, identify cases that had remained pending for long periods and develop strategies to reduce backlogs.
“Every head of court should have a clear understanding of the condition of the court’s docket, including the number of pending cases, their age, the categories experiencing the greatest delays and the reasons for their continued pendency.
“This information should inform realistic strategies for reducing backlog, improving the allocation of hearing dates and ensuring th
