Get Guardian on GoogleThe Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned the 375 judges inaugurated to handle election petitions ahead of the 2027 general elections against compromising their integrity.
The association cautioned that politicians must not be allowed to overturn the choices of voters through questionable court judgments and alleged financial inducements.
In a statement on Monday, the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the 2027 post-election period would be a defining test for the judiciary and the country’s democracy.
He warned that judges who accepted financial inducements to influence election petition proceedings would face unprecedented public scrutiny and demands for accountability.
According to him, the 375 judicial officers must understand that they have been entrusted with the future of Nigeria’s democracy, not the political survival of powerful individuals.
HURIWA expressed concern over alleged attempts by some politicians to influence election-related proceedings through financial inducements, warning that judicial corruption must not be concealed behind complicated legal arguments or controversial judgments.
It said Nigerians and political stakeholders would be more vigilant in monitoring the conduct of election petition tribunals in 2027.
The association called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to intensify vigilance around credible allegations of financial inducement, suspicious transactions and attempts to compromise election petition proceedings.
It also asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to strengthen scrutiny of judges’ asset declarations and ensure that relevant information was accessible in accordance with the law.
HURIWA maintained that unexplained wealth and suspicious financial dealings involving judicial officers should not be ignored, particularly during a politically sensitive election cycle.
On the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the association challenged the commission to ensure that the 2027 elections were credible and reflected the choices made by voters at polling units.
It said INEC must resist political pressure, address operational weaknesses and prevent avoidable controversies that could lead to prolonged post-election litigation.
The association argued that election tribunals should exist to resolve genuine disputes rather than routinely determine who governs because electoral institutions had failed to protect the people’s mandate.
It specifically challenged INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to demonstrate institutional independence and ensure that the 2027 elections were not remembered for political interference and litigation overshadowing the ballot.
The warning followed the inauguration of 375 judges on Monday at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja to serve on election petition tribunals ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that 138 of the judges were returning members with previous tribunal experience, while 237 were newly nominated.
She said the credibility of democracy depended not only on the conduct of elections but also on impartial, effective and timely mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.
HURIWA recalled that Sections 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, empower the President of the Court of Appeal to constitute election petition tribunals for disputes arising from National and State Houses of Assembly and governorship elections.
It also cited Section 134(3)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides timelines for constituting the tribunals and opening their registries.
“Any judge who converts the courtroom into a marketplace for electoral victories would be betraying the Constitution and undermining the sovereignty of the Nigerian people,” HURIWA said.
It added that the ultimate responsibility of every tribunal judge was to defend the Constitution, uphold the evidence and protect the mandate freely given by Nigerians.
“HURIWA’s position is clear: Let the people’s votes count. No politician must buy what the people have refused to give, and no judge must sell what the people have decided,” the statement said.
