A presidential aspirant of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Yakubu Kingsley, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the emergence of former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, Kingsley, through his counsel, D.A. Sulyman, sued the PRP, Duke and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first, second and third defendants respectively.
The plaintiff is asking the court to nullify Duke’s emergence as the party’s flagbearer, alleging that the former governor was not a registered member of the PRP within the period required by law and the party’s regulations.
In the originating summons filed on June 10, Kingsley asked the court to determine whether Duke was validly returned as the PRP presidential candidate following the May 25 primary election, whose result was announced on May 26, despite allegedly not being listed in the party’s membership register submitted to INEC on May 4.
He also questioned the validity of the primary election results, alleging over-voting in several states.
According to the suit, Bauchi State recorded 760 votes despite having only 593 registered party members, while Gombe State allegedly produced 1,431 votes from 348 registered members. In Kwara State, the plaintiff claimed 82 votes were recorded even though the party’s membership register contained only 55 members.
Kingsley argued that the alleged irregularities warrant the nullification of the primary election.
He further asked the court to declare Duke ineligible to contest the primary on the grounds that he was not a registered party member at the relevant time and allegedly failed to physically appear for the party’s screening exercise at its national secretariat, contrary to the party’s screening guidelines.
The plaintiff is also seeking the cancellation of the primary election results in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states over the alleged over-voting.
In addition, Kingsley urged the court to declare him the valid PRP presidential candidate, maintaining that he fulfilled all the party’s nomination requirements and remained a duly registered member.
He also requested an order restraining INEC from recognising Duke as the party’s presidential candidate and directing the electoral commission to replace Duke’s name with his own.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Kingsley stated that he is a registered member of the PRP from Auchi III Ward in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State and holds membership card number 2A8D8B20B2.
He said he purchased the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the presidential election, paying a total of N20 million, and secured the required endorsements from party members.
Kingsley maintained that he personally attended the party’s presidential screening exercise held between May 15 and 19, 2026, in Abuja, where he was screened and cleared to contest the primary election.
He expressed surprise that Duke’s name appeared on the list of aspirants despite allegedly not participating in the screening exercise.
The plaintiff also challenged INEC to produce the PRP membership register submitted on May 4 to establish whether Duke was a registered member at the time required under electoral regulations.
Kingsley further alleged that objections were raised by party members over Duke’s eligibility before the primary election and claimed the exercise was characterised by irregularities and manipulation.
He argued that the votes declared in Duke’s favour did not represent the lawful votes cast by eligible party members and insisted that once the allegedly inflated votes are excluded, he emerged as the rightful winner of the primary election.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Monday, June 22, for the commencement of hearing in the matter after hearing notices were served on all parties.
The PRP had screened and cleared three aspirants, namely; Donald Duke, economist Dr. Nnaoke Ufere and Yakubu Kingsley to contest its presidential primary before conducting the election on May 25, where Duke was declared the winner the following day.
