The Federal High Court of Nigeria has instructed all its divisional registries nationwide to commence operations on weekends and public holidays exclusively for the filing of pre-election matters in preparation for the 2027 general elections. This directive was announced in a public notice issued on Thursday and signed by the Chief Registrar of the court, Yahaya Shafa.
According to the notice, all Federal High Court registries across the country will operate between 10:00am and 2:00pm on weekends and public holidays to facilitate pre-election filings. The court stated that this step is necessary to adhere to the constitutional and statutory timelines governing the filing and resolution 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 10:00am and 2:00pm on weekends and public holidays for filing of pre-election matters only,” the notice said. “This has become expedient to meet up with the limited time frame for filing pre-election matters.”
This development occurs as political parties intensify their preparations for the 2027 general elections, with many parties having already concluded primaries for governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly positions. While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has completed its primary elections, several opposition parties are racing to finish theirs before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline of May 30. Although some aspirants across party lines have expressed dissatisfaction with the outcomes, the court's directive aims to ensure timely legal processes.
