Federal High Court directs registries nationwide to open on weekends and public holidays for pre-election matters ahead of the 2027 elections
The Federal High Court of Nigeria has directed all its registries nationwide to open on weekends and public holidays for the filing of pre-election matters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The Federal High Court pre-election filing directive was issued in a statement on Thursday by the Chief Registrar, Yahaya Shafa, citing the need to comply with strict constitutional timelines.
According to the court, registries across all divisions will now operate between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays strictly for election-related filings.
The judiciary explained that the arrangement is limited exclusively to pre-election matters, given the urgency and statutory deadlines involved in such cases.
The statement emphasised that the special opening schedule is designed to ensure timely access to justice and avoid delays that could affect election disputes.
“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,” the statement read.
It added that the decision became necessary due to the limited time frame provided by law for handling pre-election cases.
The directive comes as political parties across the country intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with several already conducting primaries for various elective positions.
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Legal practitioners say the move is expected to ease pressure on the courts and ensure faster processing of election-related disputes.
