375 judges sworn in for Nigeria's 2027 election disputes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the Court of Appeal, swore in 375 judges to hear disputes over the National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly elections. The ruling APC and the opposition, including the Labour Party, demand fairness and oversight, according to Punch, 68 days before the vote.
A total of 375 judges were sworn in on Monday 9 November in Abuja to hear election disputes arising from the national legislative, gubernatorial and State Assembly elections scheduled for 2027. The ceremony was presided over by the president of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, 68 days before the vote. According to The Punch, political parties reacted to the swearing-in.
The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, urged the judges to show fairness. APC spokesperson Bala Ibrahim said justice must be done, while the party faces accusations of bias and collusion. The Labour Party and the Obidient movement, which supports opposition candidate Peter Obi, on the contrary demand greater oversight of the election tribunals, which they accuse of being able to legitimise fraud. The Nigerian Democratic Congress hopes the outcome of the vote will be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than by the courts.
The establishment of these tribunals falls within the framework of the 1999 Constitution, section 285 of which gives the president of the Court of Appeal responsibility for constituting election tribunals, and of the 2026 Electoral Act. The swearing-in comes as the INEC, the national electoral commission, has threatened sanctions against electoral actors who commit offences.
