Nigerian court sets Nov. 2 judgment date in suit challenging Donald Duke's PRP presidential candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled November 2 for a judgment in a lawsuit contesting the emergence of former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke as the presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 general elections. Justice Mohammed Umar set the date after the parties involved adopted their legal arguments.

The plaintiff, Yakubu Kingsley, another presidential aspirant within the PRP, initiated the suit following Duke's victory in the party's primary election held on May 25. Kingsley's legal challenge centers on allegations of overvoting in key states like Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara, which he claims invalidate the election results. He also disputes Duke's eligibility, asserting that Duke was not a member of the PRP at the time of the primary and therefore should not have been cleared to participate.

Kingsley further argues that Duke failed to comply with party guidelines requiring physical presence for screening at the national secretariat. The aspirant is seeking a court order to nullify the primary election results in the contested states and to declare himself the PRP's presidential candidate for 2027, citing his own compliance with party rules and registered membership. He also wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be directed not to recognize Duke as the party's flagbearer.

In his supporting affidavit, Kingsley provided his PRP membership card number and stated he is a registered member. He swore that Duke was not a duly registered member when the party's membership register was submitted to INEC on May 4. Kingsley detailed his purchase of the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms and his payment of N20 million to the party. However, Duke and the PRP, through their lawyer, have filed a preliminary objection challenging the court's jurisdiction to hear the case.