The Federal High Court of Nigeria has directed that its registries across all judicial divisions will open on weekends and public holidays to handle the filing of pre-election matters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho issued the (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026, on Tuesday to ensure fair, impartial, and expeditious resolution of these time-sensitive cases.
The directions were announced in a statement by the court’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine-Oby Christopher.
The move is backed by relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and other enabling laws. Registries will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, exclusively for filing pre-election cases.
Key provisions of the new Practice DirectionsPre-election matters must generally be commenced by Originating Summons.
Parties challenging primary elections must join all relevant parties as respondents.
Where fraud, forgery, or highly contentious facts are alleged, parties may call witnesses and tender documents in evidence.
Electronic service and virtual hearings are encouraged to speed up proceedings.
Matters must be heard expeditiously, with a maximum of two adjournments per party.
The court will prioritise these cases until judgment is delivered.
The new guidelines repeal the 2022 version and emphasise focusing on genuine issues while minimising interlocutory applications and delays.
The standard Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, will apply to any matters not covered by these directions.
This proactive step by the judiciary aims to accommodate the tight constitutional timelines for pre-election litigation as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 polls.
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