Court fixes July 7 for hearing in suit challenging Donald Duke’s PRP presidential ticket

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7, 2026, for the commencement of a substantive hearing in a suit challenging the emergence of former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election.

Justice Mohammed Umar set the date on Monday after counsel to the plaintiff, Felix Ipogah, withdrew an ex parte application seeking leave of the court to serve originating processes on Duke.

Ipogah informed the court that the application had become unnecessary following Duke’s decision to enter an appearance in the matter by filing a preliminary objection and a supporting affidavit.

Justice Umar struck out the application and directed the plaintiff to serve hearing notices on the three defendants, the PRP, Duke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the next adjourned date.

The suit was instituted by Yakubu Kingsley, an aggrieved PRP presidential aspirant who participated in the party’s presidential primary held on May 25, 2026. Kingsley is seeking an order nullifying Duke’s emergence as the party’s flagbearer.

According to the plaintiff, Duke did not meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by the party, including membership registration and compliance with screening procedures.

He further alleged that the primary election was fraught with irregularities, particularly cases of over-voting in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara states.

Kingsley claimed that Bauchi State recorded 760 votes despite having only 593 registered party members, while Gombe allegedly returned 1,431 votes against a membership strength of 348.

He also alleged that Kwara recorded 82 votes from a register containing just 55 members.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, the plaintiff asked the court to nullify Duke’s nomination, cancel the results from the affected states, and declare him the valid PRP presidential candidate.

He also seeks an order restraining INEC from recognizing Duke as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Kingsley maintained that he fulfilled all nomination requirements, including the payment of N20 million for expression of interest and nomination forms, obtaining the required endorsements, and successfully undergoing the party’s screening process.

He further alleged that Duke’s name was absent from the PRP membership register submitted to INEC before the statutory deadline and claimed that the former governor did not physically participate in the party’s screening exercise.

The case had earlier been adjourned to enable the service of court processes on Duke. However, with the former governor now having filed a preliminary objection, the court is set to begin hearing the substantive issues in dispute on July 7.