Court To Hear Suit Seeking To Void Duke’s PRP Nomination

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7 for the hearing of a suit challenging the emergence of former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke as the People’s Redemption Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the case on Monday after the plaintiff’s lawyer, Felix Ipogah, withdrew an application seeking leave to serve court documents on Duke, informing the court that the former governor had already entered appearance by filing a preliminary objection.

The court subsequently 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 hearing.

The suit was filed by Yakubu Kingsley, an aggrieved PRP presidential aspirant, who is seeking to nullify Duke’s nomination over alleged non-compliance with the party’s membership and screening requirements.

Kingsley also alleged widespread irregularities during the party’s May 25 presidential primary, claiming there was over-voting in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states. He further argued that Duke’s name was absent from the party’s membership register submitted to INEC before the statutory deadline and alleged that the former governor did not physically participate in the party’s screening exercise.

The plaintiff is asking the court to void Duke’s nomination, set aside the disputed primary results, declare him the valid PRP presidential candidate and restrain INEC from recognising Duke as the party’s flagbearer.