The Federal High Court has amended its 2026 Pre-Election Practice Directions, introducing new measures that allow virtual hearings, empower the Chief Judge to transfer pre-election cases across judicial divisions and permit court registries to remain open on weekends and public holidays for election-related filings.
The revised Practice Directions, issued by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, took effect on July 14, just weeks after the original rules came into force on June 26.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the court’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Christopher, said the amendments were made pursuant to relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026 and other enabling laws.
According to her, the objective is to enhance “the speedy, efficient, and fair determination of pre-election matters in keeping with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2026, and other applicable laws.”
The revised guidelines expand the court’s administrative and technological powers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the key changes is the introduction of virtual hearings for pre-election cases.
The amended rules state that judges may utilise technology, “including virtual hearings,” in the conduct of proceedings.
The new Practice Directions also grant the Chief Judge the authority to deploy judges to any judicial division to hear pre-election matters and transfer cases between divisions where necessary.
“The Chief Judge shall have power to assign Judges to sit in any Judicial Division for the hearing and determination of pre-election matters and/or to transfer pre-election matters from one Judicial Division to the other,” the document stated.
The amendments further strengthen electronic case management by allowing the court to notify lawyers of urgent proceedings through email and other electronic means, provided such notices are issued at least 48 hours before the scheduled hearing.
While retaining the provision that no party may be granted more than two adjournments, the revised rules stipulate that applications for adjournment will not be entertained on days fixed for hearing. Parties who change legal counsel during proceedings are also restricted to a maximum of two adjournments.
The Practice Directions also preserve the constitutional requirement that preliminary objections and other interlocutory applications relating to jurisdiction be determined alongside the substantive case at the final judgment stage.
However, courts are now empowered to award costs against parties or counsel found to have filed interlocutory applications solely to delay proceedings.
In addition, parties alleging fraud, forgery or other disputed facts are now required to file written witness depositions alongside affidavits, with such witnesses subject to cross-examination.
The revised rules retain existing timelines requiring respondents to enter appearance within seven days, file their defence within 10 days, while applicants have three days to file replies. Written addresses supporting originating summons remain limited to 15 pages, while those accompanying preliminary objections must not exceed 10 pages.
The Federal High Court had introduced the original 2026 Pre-Election Practice Directions to accelerate the hearing and determination of election-related disputes in line with constitutional timelines.
