Court to Hear Suit Challenging Donald Duke’s Presidential Candidacy on Monday

The Federal High Court in Abuja will hear a lawsuit filed by Dr Yakubu Kingsley, who challenges the nomination of former Rivers Governor Donald Duke as the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The hearing, scheduled for Monday, was set by Justice Mohammed Umar. Notice of the hearing has been served on all parties involved.

In the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026 and brought by Kingsley’s lawyer, D.A. Sulyman, the PRP, Mr Duke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are named as defendants one through three, respectively.

Kingsley’s summons, filed on 10 June, seeks answers to three questions. He asks the court to determine whether Duke was properly returned as the PRP presidential candidate in the primary held on 25 May, whose results were announced on 26 May, given that Duke was not a registered PRP member as of 4 May when the party’s membership register was submitted to INEC.

He also challenges alleged over‑voting in several states. In Bauchi, the PRP membership register lists 593 members, yet 760 votes were cast. In Gombe, 348 members were registered but 1,431 votes were recorded. In Kwara, 55 members were listed but 82 votes were cast, which Kingsley argues does not justify nullifying the primary.

Accordingly, Kingsley requests a declaration that Duke, who was not a registered PRP member, cannot have participated in the May 25 primary where he was declared the winner. He also seeks a declaration that Duke should not have been cleared for the presidential primary because he failed to attend the party’s screening at its national secretariat.

Further, Kingsley asks the court to set aside the results of the presidential primary in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara on the basis of overvoting, to declare him the PRP presidential candidate, and to direct INEC to remove Duke’s name from its database as the party’s flagbearer. He also requests that the electoral umpire recognise him as the PRP presidential candidate.

In his affidavit, Kingsley, who identifies himself as a politician from Auchi III Ward, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, now in Abuja, states that he is a registered PRP member with card number 2A8D8B20B2. He claims to have paid N20 million to the party, completed all nomination requirements, and received endorsement from the required number of registered members.

He says he physically attended the presidential screening exercise held between 15 and 19 May 2026 at the PRP national secretariat in Abuja, as required by the Aspirants Checklist for Screening (exhibit “BB”). He asserts that he was screened and cleared to contest the primary on 25 May.

Kingsley alleges that Duke’s name appeared as an aspirant despite not attending the screening, contrary to INEC regulations that require parties to submit the names of their registered members at least 21 days before the primary.

He challenges the electoral umpire to produce the membership register submitted on 4 May. Kingsley also notes that several party members raised objections to Duke’s eligibility and that the primary was marred by irregularities and manipulation. He attached the primary result sheet to demonstrate overvoting.

He reports that his agents and representatives were denied effective participation in the collation process. Kingsley states that he believes the declared result in favor of Duke does not reflect the lawful votes of eligible members and that, once unlawful votes are excluded, he would emerge as the aspirant with the highest lawful votes.

He affirms that the affidavit is made in good faith in accordance with the Oaths Act.

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