Court to hear suit seeking Duke’s sack as PRP presidential candidate today

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will today hear the suit challenging the emergence of former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 election. The court is expected to determine three reliefs sought by one Yakubu Kingsley, an aspirant for the […]

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will today hear the suit challenging the emergence of former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 election.
The court is expected to determine three reliefs sought by one Yakubu Kingsley, an aspirant for the party’s presidential ticket during the recently concluded primary.
Kingsley through his lawyer, D.A. Sulyman is alleging over-voting and contesting Duke’s registration status with the party before the primaries.
Daily Trust reports that the suit filed on June 10, 2026 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, joined PRP, Duke and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.
In the hearing notices for Monday’s proceedings, which was sighted by our correspondent on Sunday, the suit has been assigned to Justice Mohammed Umar.
The plaintiff, in the originating summons, wants the court to determine whether Duke was duly returned as the presidential candidate of PRP in the 25 May primary election, in which its results was declared on the 26 May, having not been a registered member of the party as at May 4, when the PRP membership register was submitted to INEC.
Kingsley also challenged alleged over-voting in states like Bauchi, where the registered members of the 1st defendant in its membership database is 593 and the total votes cast was 760.
He also alleged that in Gombe State, the registered member was 348 and the votes cast was 1,431 and in Kwara State, the registered members was 55 while the vote cast was 82 votes, calling for the nullification of the primary election.
The plaintiff, therefore, sought a declaration that the ex-governor, not being a registered member of PRP, cannot participate in the party’s primary election held on 25 May of which he was declared the winner on 26 May.
He said Duke ought not to have been cleared for the presidential primary election contest, having not complied with the guidelines of the party to be physically present for the screening at its national secretariat.
Kingsley is also praying the court for an order setting aside the results of the presidential election conducted in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states on the grounds of over-voting.
He also sought an order directing the commission not to recognize Duke as PRP’s presidential flag bearer or to delete his name from its database as the presidential candidate of the party.
The plaintiff further sought an order directing the electoral umpire to recognise him as PRP’s presidential candidate.
In the affidavit in support of the suit sworn by Kingsley, the aggrieved aspirant said he is a registered member of PRP with membership card number: 2A8D8B20B2.
The plaintiff, who described himself as a “politician,” said he is of Auchi III Ward, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, but presently in Abuja, FCT.
He averred on oath that Duke was not a duly member of PRP as at May 4 when the membership register of the party was submitted to INEC.
He said he validly purchased the party’s Expression of Interest Form and Nomination Form for the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and paid a total sum of N20 million to the party.
He also stated that he duly completed all nomination requirements and was endorsed by the requisite number of registered members as required by the party’s guidelines.
“That I physically attended the presidential screening exercise conducted by the party between 15th and 19th May 2026 at the National Secretariat of the 1st defendant in Abuja as stipulated in the Aspirants Checklist for Screening, a copy of which is herewith attached and marked as Exhibit ‘BB’.”
He said he was duly screened and cleared by the party to contest the presidential primary election conducted on 25 May.
He said to his utmost surprise, the name of the 2nd defendant (Duke) appeared as an aspirant despite the fact that he did not physically participate in the screening exercise together with other aspirants at the National Secretariat of the 1st defendant.
He said this was against INEC’s extant regulations and guidelines, mandating political parties to submit the names of their registered members at least 21 days before the conduct of the party’s primary.
Kingsley, therefore, challenged the electoral umpire to produce its membership register submitted to it as of 4 May.
He alleged that several objections and complaints were raised by party’s members concerning the eligibility of Duke.
Besides, the aggrieved aspirant alleged that the presidential primary election was characterised by widespread irregularities and manipulation.