From Victor Osula Abuja
The Federal High Court (FHC) has announced the opening of its registries on weekends and public holidays exclusively for the filing of pre-election matters, in a move reflecting mounting political tensions and a likely surge in electoral litigation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chief Registrar of the court, Yahaya Shafa, disclosed the development on Thursday in Abuja through a statement titled, “Notice to Lawyers and the General Public.”
According to the statement, all divisions of the Federal High Court across the country would operate between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays solely for the filing of pre-election cases.
“The Federal High Court of Nigeria formally notifies all legal practitioners that Registries in all Divisions of the Federal High Court would be open between 10:00am and 2:00pm Weekends and Public Holidays for Filing of Pre-Election Matters Only. This has become expedient to meet up with the limited time frame for filing pre-election matters,” the statement read.
The decision underscores growing pressure on the judiciary as political parties, aspirants and stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 polls, with disputes over party primaries, nominations, and electoral procedures already beginning to surface.
Pre-election matters in Nigeria are governed by strict constitutional timelines, compelling courts to hear and determine cases within limited periods before elections are conducted.
The latest move by the Federal High Court is seen as an emergency administrative response aimed at preventing delays that could jeopardise the timely resolution of politically sensitive cases expected to flood the courts in the coming months.
The development also comes against the backdrop of ongoing legal challenges trailing the timetable and schedule of activities released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
Although INEC unveiled the election timetable in line with statutory requirements, aspects of the schedule have reportedly become subjects of litigation, adding another layer of uncertainty to the evolving electoral process.
The Federal High Court remains one of the major courts vested with jurisdiction over pre-election disputes involving political parties, candidates, and electoral matters in Nigeria.
