A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed 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 election. The suit was filed by an aggrieved PRP presidential aspirant, Yakubu Muhammad Kingsley. The court ruled that the suit was statute-barred, having been commenced outside the 14-day period prescribed by the Constitution for pre-election matters.
Justice Mohammed Umar held that the preliminary objections filed by the PRP and Duke against the competence of the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, were valid. The court considered the substantive issues raised by Kingsley and resolved them in favour of the respondents. The judge's ruling was based on the fact that the suit was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed time frame for pre-election matters.
The court also considered Kingsley's claim that Duke was not a member of the PRP. However, the court held that membership of a political party was an internal party affair and therefore outside its jurisdiction. This means that the court cannot interfere with the internal affairs of a political party, including issues related to membership.
Kingsley had alleged that the PRP's guidelines were breached during the screening exercise. However, the court held that he failed to place before the court the party's guidelines to substantiate his claims. The court also noted that Kingsley failed to produce the party's membership register, accreditation records, and final primary election results to support his allegations of over-voting during the PRP presidential primary in some states.
The court dismissed Kingsley's allegations of over-voting during the PRP presidential primary in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara states. The court held that the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claims. As a result, the court resolved the issues in favour of the PRP, Duke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The dismissal of the suit means that Duke's candidacy for the PRP is valid. The court ruling was delivered on October 1, 2026. The PRP and Duke had argued that the suit was unfounded and lacked merit. The court's decision has put to rest the controversy surrounding Duke's emergence as the PRP's presidential candidate.
The court's decision has implications for the 2027 presidential election. The PRP will now be able to proceed with Duke as its presidential candidate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will now be able to finalize arrangements for the election. The court's ruling has brought clarity to the PRP's presidential ticket and has paved the way for the party's participation in the election.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging Donald Duke's emergence as the Peoples Redemption Party's presidential candidate.
- The court ruled that the suit was statute-barred, having been commenced outside the 14-day period prescribed by the Constitution for pre-election matters.
- The court's decision has implications for the 2027 presidential election, as it clears the way for Duke to run as the PRP's presidential candidate.
