The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has issued the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026, officially repealing the 2022 version.
According to a statement by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Catherine Christopher, the new Practice Directions are designed to ensure the speedy, efficient, and fair determination of pre-election cases in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2026, and other relevant laws.
Under the new guidelines, all pre-election matters must commence through an originating summons. Any party challenging the conduct or outcome of a primary election is also required to join all relevant parties as respondents to enable the court to effectively determine the dispute.
The Practice Directions further provide that once parties have completed the exchange of court processes, the court must fix the matter for hearing within seven days.
It also emphasizes that pre-election matters will continue to receive priority attention until judgment is delivered.
In addition, where a matter comes up for hearing and one of the parties is absent despite being duly notified, the court may, either on its own initiative or upon an oral application by the counsel representing the party present, deem the written address of the absent party as duly adopted.
To discourage unnecessary delays, the Practice Directions stipulate that no party shall be granted more than two adjournments in any action covered under the new rules.
