2027: Dongban-Mensem swears in 375 enchantment tribunal judges, INEC warns political actors

In line with the constitutional provision in addition to the supply of the Electoral Act 2026, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Monday, sworn in 375 judges to serve on tribunals that can hear election petitions which will come up from the 2027 General Elections.

She particularly warned them to reside aboard as they’re additionally an integral a part of the nation’s democratic course of.

While Section 285(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as altered), empowers President of the Court of Appeal to  represent election petition tribunals(EPT) for the adjudication of disputes arising from the National and State Houses of Assembly in addition to  Governorship elections, Section 134(3)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, fixes  the timelines for constituting the tribunals and opening their registries.

Addressing the jurists on the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, Justice  Dongban-Mensem described the inauguration of the EPT judges as a collective dedication to constitutional democracy, the rule of regulation, and the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral course of.

She mentioned, “This gathering is greater than a ceremonial occasion; it is a vital institutional preparation for probably the most consequential duties entrusted to the judiciary.

“The credibility of democracy relies upon not solely on the conduct of elections but in addition on the existence of neutral, efficient, and well timed mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.

“Through the fair determination of such disputes, the Judiciary safeguards the people’s mandate, upholds constitutional supremacy and sustains public confidence in democratic governance.”

While reminding them that their acts can be a measure of the judiciary’s integrity, Dongban-Mensem revealed that the 375 tribunal judges have been nominated from numerous courts and judicial establishments throughout the nation.

“Of this number, 138 are returning members with previous Tribunal experience, while 237 are newly nominated members,” she additional mentioned

 …INEC condemns ‘rig and die’ slogan

In a associated growth, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monday condemned the “rig and die” slogan being popularised by some political actors forward of the 2027 normal elections, warning that it may expose harmless Nigerians to electoral violence.

The Commission, nonetheless, vowed that any electoral official, together with advert hoc personnel, discovered to have compromised the electoral course of would face the total weight of the regulation.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the warnings at a media engagement discussion board for journalists and media executives from the South-East, South-South and South-West in Enugu.

Haruna cautioned politicians in opposition to inflammatory rhetoric and threats able to endangering bizarre Nigerians engaged as presiding officers, advert hoc workers, occasion brokers and election observers.

He confused that disagreements over electoral outcomes ought to be resolved via lawful channels, together with complaints to INEC, safety businesses and the courts, moderately than violence.

The National Commissioner additionally sought stronger collaboration with the media to safeguard democracy and guarantee credible, peaceable and clear conduct of the 2027 elections.

Describing the media as vital to electoral credibility, he mentioned public confidence within the electoral course of depended largely on the accuracy, equity and professionalism of election reporting.

He cautioned journalists in opposition to spreading misinformation, unverified outcomes, manipulated movies and inflammatory political narratives able to undermining public confidence and triggering violence.

Haruna significantly warned in opposition to untimely declaration of outcomes, sensational reporting and presenting projections as official outcomes.

“Results are declared only by the Commission through its duly appointed returning officers. Projections and unofficial figures must be clearly labelled as such,” he mentioned.

He urged journalists to confirm allegations in opposition to INEC via its official channels earlier than publication and report electoral incidents with sensitivity, distinguishing between occasions personally witnessed and knowledge obtained from different sources.

Haruna additional known as for inclusive election reporting that offers ample consideration to ladies, youths and individuals with disabilities, significantly the challenges they face in taking part within the electoral course of.

He urged media organisations to accentuate voter schooling, particularly on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), accreditation procedures, digital transmission of outcomes and peaceable participation.

…Media tasked on moral reportage of elections

In a presentation on Ethical and Professional Standards in Election Reporting, one other useful resource individual, Mr Osaretin Imahheyierobo, urged journalists to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act 2026, INEC’s election protection pointers and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

He regretted that many journalists masking elections have been unfamiliar with the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing electoral reporting.

Imahheyierobo challenged media organisations to ascertain devoted election desks, editorial pointers and fact-checking mechanisms forward of the 2027 polls.

He additionally urged journalists to grasp INEC’s technological improvements, significantly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), to keep away from inaccurate reporting of the voting and result-management processes.

The useful resource individual mentioned journalists should resist the temptation to compromise skilled requirements for brown envelopes, insisting that political candidates ought to be subjected to correct scrutiny moderately than having their claims and manifestoes uncritically amplified.Follow Politics

He known as for equitable media entry for all political events and candidates, saying voters trusted the media for data essential to make knowledgeable electoral decisions.

He additional urged journalists to keep away from amplifying violent slogans and inflammatory messages able to endangering voters, electoral officers and observers.

…Distribution of PVCs

On the distribution of PVCs in Enugu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, mentioned the engagement underscored the Commission’s dedication to strengthening its relationship with the media forward of the 2027 elections.

Chukwu mentioned the media was a strategic associate in voter schooling, shaping public opinion and holding establishments accountable, however warned that misinformation may undermine electoral credibility.

 He disclosed that INEC had obtained about 35,000 PVCs for distribution throughout 260 wards in Enugu state and urged journalists to help public enlightenment on their assortment.

While acknowledging the independence and watchdog duties of the media, the REC urged practitioners to uphold accuracy, objectivity, equity and professionalism in reporting electoral actions.

He assured that the Commission remained dedicated to conducting an appropriate, clear, inclusive and peaceable 2027 normal election, including that it was open to constructive criticism and suggestions from media stakeholders.

Chukwu additionally urged journalists to teach voters on what to do earlier than, throughout and after elections to allow them to train their franchise peacefully and make knowledgeable decisions.

…NUJ chair’s remarks

In his remarks, the Enugu state council chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, recommended INEC for organising the engagement.

He, nonetheless, regretted that the initiative had not began early sufficient to permit extra journalists to profit from the coaching earlier than the graduation of the election cycle.

Ogbuka additionally expressed concern over the obvious lack of budgetary provision for journalists’ logistics throughout election assignments, saying media practitioners wanted ample help to discharge their duties successfully.

He additional expressed concern over declining public confidence in INEC and urged the Commission to take deliberate steps to rebuild belief earlier than the 2027 elections.

Other shows on the one-day engagement addressed the authorized and regulatory frameworks governing elections, provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and guidelines guiding the publication and announcement of election outcomes.

Participants recommended INEC for its preparations for the 2027 elections however urged the Commission to handle shortcomings that marred earlier polls, significantly the technical glitches that affected digital transmission of outcomes throughout the 2023 presidential election.

Media practitioners on the occasion urged INEC to begin treating journalists as vital stakeholders within the electoral course of.