Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Donald Duke’s PRP Presidential Candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election.

Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed the suit filed by Yakubu Muhammed Kingsley, an aspirant who contested the PRP presidential primary won by Duke.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, was dismissed after the court upheld preliminary objections filed by Duke and the PRP challenging the competence of the action.

Justice Umar held that the suit was a pre-election matter and was filed outside the 14-day period prescribed by Section 285(9) of the Nigerian Constitution.

According to the judgment, the PRP presidential primary was conducted on May 25, 2026, while the result was made public on May 26. Kingsley filed the suit on June 10.

The judge rejected Kingsley’s argument that the 14-day period should have started from June 6, when the party’s appeal committee communicated its decision on his complaint.

Kingsley had challenged Duke’s candidacy on several grounds, including an allegation that Duke was not a registered member of the PRP when the party submitted its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He also questioned the conduct of the May 25 presidential primary, alleging over-voting in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states.

The court also considered those substantive issues. On Duke’s alleged membership, Justice Umar held that membership of a political party was an internal party matter outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The judge further found that Kingsley had failed to produce the PRP’s relevant guidelines, which he alleged had been breached during the screening process.

On the alleged over-voting, the court held that the plaintiff had not provided key documents, including the party’s membership register, accreditation records and final primary results, to substantiate the allegations.

The court consequently dismissed the suit and resolved the issues raised in favour of the PRP, Duke and INEC.

However, the legal challenge may continue. Kingsley said on October 1 that he would appeal the judgment, arguing that the court erred in its determination of the case.

The Federal High Court’s ruling therefore leaves Duke as the PRP’s candidate at this stage, while any appeal could determine whether further judicial proceedings will affect the challenge to his candidacy.