Nigeria’s judiciary is preparing for a new wave of election-related legal challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections, with artificial intelligence-generated content, electronic result transmission and political pressure emerging as major concerns.
The development came as 375 judges were inaugurated on Monday to serve on election petition tribunals expected to handle disputes arising from the forthcoming polls.
The inauguration took place at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, bringing together judicial officers selected from different courts and institutions across the country.
Of the 375 judges, 138 have previous experience serving on election petition tribunals, while 237 are newly nominated members.
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the exercise was part of the judiciary’s preparation to protect constitutional democracy and ensure that disputes arising from the elections were resolved fairly and promptly.
She stressed that the credibility of an election was not determined only by the conduct of voting and announcement of results, but also by the ability of the courts to resolve disagreements without compromising public confidence.
Dongban-Mensem urged the judges to remain conscious of the scrutiny that would accompany their decisions, noting that their conduct would have significant implications for the country’s democratic institutions.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also warned judicial officers against political pressure and intimidation as they prepare for the demanding responsibilities ahead.
She emphasised the need for judges to uphold their oaths of office and ensure that election petitions were handled within the strict timelines provided by the Constitution and electoral laws.
The CJN also cautioned lawyers, political parties, media organisations and members of the public against actions capable of intimidating judicial officers or influencing cases before the tribunals.
She noted that unnecessary delays and poor case management would undermine the purpose of election petition proceedings, which are expected to provide timely resolutions to disputes.
Attention also turned to the growing influence of technology on election litigation, particularly the possibility of artificial intelligence being used to create misleading videos, audio recordings and other digital materials.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, warned that the 2027 election disputes could involve fabricated digital evidence presented as proof of electoral malpractice.
He said tribunals would need to carefully examine the authenticity and reliability of electronic materials rather than accepting or dismissing them simply because they were presented in digital form.
Amupitan specifically highlighted the importance of examining evidence from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the INEC Result Viewing Portal, polling-unit result sheets and voters’ registers.
He also identified electronic transmission of results and possible communication failures as issues that could feature prominently in election petitions.
According to him, judges would need to pay close attention to the origin, authenticity and handling of digital evidence to prevent manipulated materials from influencing judicial decisions.
The INEC chairman further warned that AI-generated messages impersonating election officials and fake videos claiming that polling units had been relocated or results declared could create confusion during the electoral process.
He said the legal system must be prepared to address such threats because the misuse of technology could extend beyond election day and become a major feature of post-election litigation.
The inauguration was accompanied by a three-day workshop for justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the election petition tribunals, with the theme, Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability.
The occasion also featured the unveiling of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The tribunals are expected to adjudicate disputes arising from National and State Houses of Assembly elections as well as governorship contests, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are fixed for February 6.
With the inauguration of the judges, the judiciary has begun preparations for the legal battles that may follow the elections, amid calls for impartiality, transparency and strict adherence to the law.
The credibility of the 2027 electoral process will therefore depend not only on how votes are cast and counted, but also on whether the courts can resolve disputes fairly in an increasingly complex digital environment.