To prevent statutory expiration of pre-election lawsuits ahead of the 2027 general elections, Chief Judge John Tsoho directs all court branches to run weekend operations.
The Federal High Court (FHC) of Nigeria has announced an extraordinary adjustment to its operations, directing its registries across all judicial divisions nationwide to remain open to legal practitioners on weekends and public holidays.
The special administrative directive was made public on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Abuja via an official statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the FHC, Malam Yahaya Shafa, titled “Notice to Lawyers and the General Public.”
Under this new emergency framework, the court’s filing offices will be open between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, specifically to process urgent political litigations.
According to Shafa, this unusual measure became necessary to ensure that the judiciary complies with the strict statutory deadlines set by the Electoral Act for pre-election matters.
Because these cases are bound by rigid legal timelines, any delay in filing due to weekend or holiday closures could cause political aspirants’ lawsuits to expire, effectively denying them access to the courts.
The urgent structural shift comes as political party primaries heat up across various states ahead of the 2027 general elections. Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already released its official election timetable and schedule of activities, the legal timelines have faced several challenges in court from disgruntled political actors and civil society organizations.
“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 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM 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 Chief Registrar’s statement clarified.
Senior legal professionals have widely praised the directive, noting that it will significantly reduce the pressure on law firms rushing to file cases within the strict 14-day window allowed after a political grievance occurs.
By opening up the registries outside regular business hours, the Federal High Court aims to prevent technical legal knockouts, protect the constitutional rights of internal party contestants, and ensure a stable legal environment leading up to the general elections.
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