The Federal High Court has released the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions for 2026, which outlines updated protocols designed to facilitate prompt, equitable, and effective resolution of election-related conflicts before upcoming polls.
The updated Practice Directions, approved by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, cancels the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2022 and comes into force starting June 29, 2026.
A statement released by the Director of Information at the Federal High Court, Dr. Catherine Christopher, indicated that the court introduced the updated guidelines to enhance the management of election-related matters in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended), the Electoral Act, 2026, and relevant legal provisions.
"The Federal High Court of Nigeria informs bar members, political groups, those involved in legal cases, and the broader community that His Honor, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has released the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directives, 2026," the announcement stated.
It stated, "The Practice Directions aim to promote the prompt, effective, and equitable resolution of pre-election issues in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended), the Electoral Act, 2026, and relevant legal provisions."
As per the court's decision, the updated Practice Directions replace the 2022 edition and introduce new procedural rules for judges, attorneys, political groups, and individuals engaged in legal matters before an election.
In the Practice Directions issued under Sections 254 and 285 of the Constitution, Sections 29(5) and 88(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and additional relevant authorities, Justice Tsoho mentioned that the goals involved guaranteeing "a just, unbiased, and timely resolution of pre-election matters," minimizing postponements, decreasing temporary legal arguments, promoting peaceful resolutions whenever feasible, and making sure that all sides concentrate solely on valid points at issue.
One notable change is the instruction that registers of every federal high court division nationwide will stay accessible on Saturdays, Sundays, and official holidays between 10 am and 2 pm solely for submitting election-related documents, highlighting the urgent character of these proceedings.
The Practice Directions state that all pre-election matters must begin with an Original Application, unless claims involving fraud, falsification, or other extremely disputed issues are involved. In these situations, the parties must detail their accusations, and the court has the authority to accept verbal statements and written documents from witnesses.
According to the updated regulations, individuals responding to legal actions must submit their appearance within seven days after being served, along with their counter-affidavit and written address within ten days. Meanwhile, those applying for relief are expected to present any response within three days when needed.
In order to encourage brief arguments, written submissions should not go beyond 15 pages, should be formatted with double line spacing and a 12-point typeface, and any changes to initial summons must obtain judicial approval within seven days after the defendant's response has been served.
The Procedure Guidelines further incorporate technology by enabling judges who oversee pre-election issues to hold sessions via video conferencing when suitable.
Furthermore, the court has the option to inform attorneys about critical court matters via email and other digital methods, as long as these notifications are sent out no later than 48 hours prior to the planned hearings. It is also necessary for all parties to supply valid phone numbers and email addresses for both themselves and their legal representatives.
To prevent postponements, the Practice Directions state that no party will be allowed more than two continuances, and requests for continuation will not be considered on days scheduled for hearings.
Additional guidelines state that if a party switches legal representation while the case is ongoing, only up to two postponements will be allowed for this reason.
With regard to interim applications, the Practice Directions confirm the constitutional rule that decisions on initial objections and other procedural matters affecting the court's authority are typically deferred until the conclusion of the case, unless the objections concern the delivery of initiating documents.
The head judge additionally granted himself the power to allocate judges to handle issues before elections within any court district and to move these cases between districts when required.
Pre-election issues are outlined in the Practice Directions as per Section 285(14) of the Constitution, ensuring that ongoing cases prior to this provision taking effect remain unaffected.
The Federal High Court called on all involved parties to become acquainted with the updated process guidelines.
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