The Federal High Court in Abuja is to hear a suit filed by an aspirant, Dr Yakubu Kingsley, challenging the emergence of former Governor of Rivers, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 2027 general elections.
The case, which is coming up for hearing for the first time on Monday, was fixed by Justice Mohammed Umar.
Hearing notices to the effect had been issued and served on parties in the suit.
Kingsley, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026 and filed by his lawyer, D.A. Sulyman, had sued PRP, Mr Duke and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
He sought three questions for determination in the originating summons filed on June 10.
The plaintiff wants the court to determine whether Duke was duly returned as the presidential candidate of PRP in the May 25 primary election, in which the results were declared on May 26, despite not being a registered member of the party as of May 4, when the PRP membership register was submitted to INEC.
Ge also challenged alleged over-voting in states like Bauchi, where the registered members of the 1st defendant in its membership database are 593, and the total votes cast were 760.
He also alleged that in Gombe State, the registered members were 348 and the votes cast were 1,431, and in Kwara State, the registered members were 55, while the votes cast were 82, which does not call for the nullification of the said primary election.
He, therefore, sought a declaration that the ex-governor, not having been a registered member of PRP, cannot participate in the party’s primary election held on May 25, where he was declared the winner on May 26.
He sought a declaration that the Duke ought not to have been cleared for the presidential primary election contest, having failed to comply with the party’s guidelines for physical presence at the screening at its national secretariat.
Kingsley, therefore, prayed the court for an order setting aside the results of the presidential election conducted in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara, respectively, on the ground of overvoting.
He sought an order declaring him the PRP presidential candidate, having complied with all the party’s guidelines and been a registered member of the party.
He also sought an order directing the commission not to recognise Duke as PRP’s presidential flagbearer or to delete his name from its database as the presidential candidate of the party.
The plaintiff further sought an order directing the electoral umpire to recognise him as PRP’s presidential candidate.
In the affidavit in support of the suit, deposed to by Kingsley himself, the aggrieved aspirant stated that he is a registered member of PRP with membership card number 2A8D8B20B2.
The plaintiff, who described himself as a “politician,” said he is of Auchi III Ward, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, but presently in Abuja, FCT.
He averred on oath that Duke was not a duly member of PRP as at May 4 when the membership register of the party was submitted to INEC.
He said he validly purchased the party’s Expression of Interest Form and Nomination Form for the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and paid a total sum of N20 million to the party.
He stated that he duly completed all nomination requirements and was endorsed by the requisite number of registered members as required by the party’s guidelines.
“That I physically attended the presidential screening exercise conducted by the party between 15th and 19th May, 2026, at the National Secretariat of the 1st defendant in Abuja as stipulated in the Aspirants Checklist for Screening, a copy of which is herewith attached and marked as Exhibit ‘BB.’”
He said he was duly screened and cleared by the party to contest the presidential primary election conducted on May 25.
According to him, to my utmost surprise, the name of the 2nd defendant (Duke) appeared as an aspirant despite the fact that he did not physically participate in the screening exercise together with other aspirants at the National Secretariat of the 1st defendant.
He said this was against INEC’s extant regulations and guidelines, mandating political parties to submit the names of their registered members at least 21 days before the conduct of the party’s primary.
Kingsley, there, challenged the electoral umpire to produce its membership register submitted to it as at May 4.
He alleged that several objections and complaints were raised by the party’s members regarding the eligibility of the Duke.
Besides, the aggrieved aspirant alleged that the presidential primary election was characterised by widespread irregularities and manipulation.
According to him, in several states, the votes returned exceeded the total number of eligible registered members contained in the party register.
The aggrieved aspirant attached the result sheet of the presidential primary poll to prove his allegation of overvoting.
He also alleged that his agents and representatives reported instances where they were denied effective participation in the collation process.
“That I verily believe that the purported result declared in favour of the 2nd defendant does not represent the lawful votes cast by eligible members of the party.
“That, when unlawful and inflated votes are excluded, I emerge as the aspirant who secured the highest lawful votes in the presidential primary election.
“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith, believing the contents to be true and correct in accordance with the Oaths Act,” he said.
