The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has inaugurated 375 judges who will serve on election petition tribunals ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as preparations intensify for the judicial resolution of disputes that may arise from the polls.
The inauguration, held on Monday at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, comes 68 days before the scheduled general elections. The tribunals are expected to adjudicate petitions arising from National and State Houses of Assembly elections, as well as governorship contests across the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dongban-Mensem described the exercise as a critical institutional preparation for safeguarding Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. She stressed that the credibility of elections depended not only on the conduct of the polls but also on the existence of impartial, effective and timely judicial mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.
She noted that the judiciary played a vital role in protecting the people’s mandate, upholding constitutional supremacy and sustaining public confidence in democratic governance. The Court of Appeal President also cautioned the judges to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, impartiality and a strong sense of accountability, warning that their conduct would attract considerable public scrutiny.
Dongban-Mensem disclosed that the 375 judges were drawn from various courts and judicial institutions nationwide, comprising 138 returning members with previous tribunal experience and 237 newly nominated judges. The exercise is guided by Section 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Section 134(3)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provide for the constitution of election tribunals and the opening of their registries.
