The Federal High Court has amended its 2026 Pre-Election Practice Directions to support faster handling of election-related cases. The revisions, signed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, take effect from July 14, 2026, shortly after the original practice directions were issued on June 26. The court says the changes are made under relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and other enabling laws, with the aim of ensuring speedy, efficient, and fair determination of pre-election matters.
Key amendments include allowing judges to conduct virtual hearings using technology, enabling the Chief Judge to assign judges to any judicial division and to transfer pre-election cases between divisions when necessary, and permitting electronic notification of urgent proceedings to counsel via email or other electronic means with at least 48 hours’ notice. The amended directions also allow court registries to remain open on weekends and public holidays for filing election suits. The rules maintain existing limits on adjournments and set out how interlocutory matters such as jurisdictional issues and preliminary objections are handled. They also provide additional requirements where parties allege fraud or forgery, including written depositions alongside affidavits.
