The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the emergence of former Cross River State governor Donald Duke as the Peoples Redemption Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Justice Mohammed Umar held that the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026 and filed by PRP presidential aspirant Yakubu Kingsley, was statute-barred. The judge upheld preliminary objections raised by Duke and the party, ruling that the suit violated Section 285(9) of the Constitution.
Kingsley filed the action on June 10, 16 days after the results of the PRP’s presidential primary held on May 25 were made public. The Constitution requires pre-election matters to be filed within 14 days. Justice Umar rejected Kingsley’s argument that the countdown should begin on June 6, when the party’s appeal committee communicated its decision rejecting his appeal. Having found the suit statute-barred, the court declined jurisdiction.
The judge nevertheless considered the case on its merits and dismissed it, holding that Kingsley failed to prove his claims. He ruled that the question of Duke’s membership of the PRP is an internal party affair that is non-justiciable. Kingsley had argued that Duke was not a registered member when the party submitted its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission on May 4.
Justice Umar also rejected the claim that Duke failed to comply with party guidelines by not appearing physically for screening at the national secretariat. He noted that Kingsley did not produce the guidelines he alleged were breached. Allegations of over-voting in Bauchi, Kwara and Gombe states were similarly dismissed for lack of proof.
In his originating summons, Kingsley had asked the court to declare Duke ineligible to contest the primary, set aside results from the three states, and order INEC not to recognise Duke as the party’s candidate. The court refused all the reliefs sought.
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