Nigerian Court Orders Weekend Hours for 2027 Pre-Election Filings

The Federal High Court of Nigeria has ordered its registries across all divisions to operate on weekends and public holidays to accommodate a surge of pre-election filings ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chief Registrar Yahaya Shafa issued the directive on Thursday, setting registry hours from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on those days. The measure aims to ensure the court meets constitutional and statutory deadlines for filing and resolving pre-election disputes.

Political parties have intensified preparations and conducted primaries for various positions, driving the anticipated volume of cases. Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has published an election timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 contests, though that schedule is currently being challenged in court. The extended registry hours reflect the judiciary's effort to prevent procedural bottlenecks as both litigation and political activity accelerate in the lead-up to the elections.