By Our Reporter
With 68 days to the 2027 general elections, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Monday inaugurated 375 judges to serve on election petition tribunals across the country.
The tribunals are expected to handle disputes arising from the forthcoming National and State Houses of Assembly and governorship elections.
The inauguration took place at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.
The responsibility for constituting Election Petition Tribunals rests with the President of the Court of Appeal under Sections 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Similarly, Section 134(3)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, stipulates the timelines for constituting the tribunals and opening their registries.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dongban-Mensem described the exercise as a significant institutional preparation for one of the judiciary’s most important responsibilities.
She said the inauguration demonstrated a collective commitment to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to her, the credibility of democracy depends not only on the conduct of elections but also on the availability of impartial, effective and timely mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.
She noted that through the fair determination of election petitions, the judiciary protects the people’s mandate, upholds constitutional supremacy and sustains public confidence in democratic governance.
The Court of Appeal President urged the newly inaugurated judges to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, fairness and a strong sense of duty, warning that their conduct and decisions would attract considerable public scrutiny.
Dongban-Mensem disclosed that the 375 judges were nominated from various courts and judicial institutions across the country.
She explained that 138 of them were returning members with previous experience in election petition tribunals, while 237 were newly nominated.
The inauguration comes as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, with the judiciary expected to play a critical role in resolving disputes that may arise from the electoral process.