Federal High Court to Review Donald Duke’s PRP Candidacy
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja is scheduled to commence hearings on Monday regarding a legal challenge to the candidacy of former Cross River Governor Donald Duke for the presidency under the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The lawsuit was filed by Yakubu Muhamed Kingsley, an aggrieved member of the PRP, with Congressman Saliman representing him. The suit names the PRP, Duke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first and third defendants, respectively.
Under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether Duke was a registered member of the party as of May 4, the date when the PRP’s membership register was submitted to INEC. They argue that Duke’s candidacy, declared during the party’s primary election on May 25, should be nullified due to this lack of registration.
The plaintiffs further contend that in states like Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara, the discrepancies in voting data—such as total votes exceeding the number of registered members—highlight serious irregularities. They argue that these findings do not seek to invalidate the primaries but underscore the need for judicial intervention.
If the court finds in favor of the plaintiffs, they request a declaration that Duke, lacking proper registration, should not have participated in the party’s May 25 primaries and that his candidacy should be disqualified from the results announced on May 26.
Additionally, Kingsley insists that Duke failed to comply with the party’s procedural requirements, specifically not attending the mandatory screening at the state secretariat. He seeks not only to suspend the primary election results from Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara but also to be recognized as the rightful presidential candidate of the PRP, in line with party rules and membership status.
Legal Demands and Allegations of Electoral Misconduct
The plaintiffs also call for an order directing INEC to neither recognize Duke as the PRP’s presidential candidate nor include his name in its official records. Simultaneously, they are requesting that electoral authorities acknowledge Kingsley as the legitimate candidate.
In a supporting affidavit, Kingsley claims he attended the presidential selection exercise at the PRP National Secretariat in Abuja from May 15 to 19, 2026. He asserts that he was vetted and had obtained permission from the party to partake in the May 25 primary elections.
Shockingly, he notes that despite Duke’s absence from the screening process, his name was included among the candidates, an action he argues contravenes INEC’s guidelines that mandate political parties to submit a list of registered members at least 21 days prior to the primaries.
In response to these irregularities, Kingsley filed an objection with the election tribunal, emphasizing the necessity for the membership register submitted on May 4 to be made available for review. He affirms that numerous complaints have been raised by party members regarding Duke’s qualifications.
The allegations extend further, with Kingsley and other candidates claiming that the presidential primary was marked by significant fraud and manipulation. They assert that in various states, the reported voting numbers surpassed the total of eligible registered members listed on the party’s rolls.
