FHC Amends 2026 Pre-Election Rules for Virtual Hearings

On July 14, the Federal High Court, led by Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho, amended its pre-election practice directions to introduce measures that empower judges to conduct virtual hearings and transfer pre-election cases across judicial divisions. This amendment, issued by Dr.

Catherine Christoph, aims to enhance the speedy and efficient determination of pre-election matters in line with the 1999 Constitution and the amended Electoral Act of 2026. The new rules significantly broaden the court's administrative technological powers ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Key changes include the prohibition of more than two adjournments, strict timelines for filing responses, and the requirement for parties to file written depositions and affidavits. The amendments also allow the Chief Judge to assign judges to hear pre-election matters and mandate electronic notifications for urgent proceedings.

The previous practice direction focused mainly on strict timelines for hearing pre-election disputes, which the new version seeks to improve.