Federal High Court Unveils New Pre-Election Guidelines

The Federal High Court of Nigeria, led by Chief Justice John Tsoho, announced significant changes to the handling of pre-election cases on Tuesday in Abuja. The new guidelines, known as the Federal High Court Pre-Election Practice Direct 2026, aim to expedite the resolution of electoral disputes and reduce delays in court proceedings.

Justice Tsoho stated that the framework is designed to ensure quicker, fairer, and more efficient handling of pre-election disputes, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of future elections. The new rules will allow judges to focus on genuine disputes and minimize unnecessary applications that cause delays.

The guidelines are backed by powers granted under Section 254(285) of the 1999 Constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. The court will also extend its registry operations to weekends and public holidays for pre-election matters, with specific hours for filing cases.

Parties involved in disputes will be required to provide detailed particulars and documentary evidence during hearings.