The Federal High Court of Nigeria has directed all its divisional registries nationwide to begin operations on weekends and public holidays strictly for the filing of pre-election matters ahead of the 2027 General Elections. The directive was contained in a public notice issued on Thursday and signed by the Chief Registrar of the court, Yahaya Shafa.
Registry Hours for Pre-Election Filings
According to the notice, all Federal High Court registries across the country will operate between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays to accommodate pre-election filings. The court said the move became necessary to comply with the constitutional and statutory timelines governing the filing and determination of pre-election disputes.
“The Federal High Court of Nigeria formally notifies all legal practitioners that registries in all divisions of the court would be open between 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays for filing of pre-election matters only,” the notice stated. It explained: “This has become expedient to meet up with the limited timeframe for filing pre-election matters.”
Political Parties Intensify Preparations
The development comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 General elections, with some parties already concluding primaries for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly positions. While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has completed its primary elections, many opposition parties are racing to conclude theirs before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline of May 30.
This measure aims to ensure that all pre-election disputes are filed and resolved within the tight legal deadlines, thereby promoting electoral integrity and timely justice. Legal practitioners are encouraged to take advantage of the extended registry hours to file necessary documents.
