A legal dispute has emerged within the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) over the eligibility of its presidential candidate, Donald Duke, after another aspirant challenged the outcome of the party’s presidential primary in court.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 7 for the hearing of the suit, which questions Duke’s qualification to contest under the party’s platform.
The case was filed by Yakubu Kingsley, a fellow presidential aspirant, who alleges that Duke failed to satisfy essential requirements for the party’s nomination process. According to the suit, Duke was not properly registered as a party member, did not comply with screening procedures, and benefited from irregularities during the primary election.
During Monday’s proceedings, Kingsley’s lawyer, Felix Ipogah, informed the court that an earlier application seeking permission to serve court documents on Duke was no longer necessary because the former governor had already responded by filing a preliminary objection and supporting affidavit.
Following the development, Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the withdrawn application and directed the plaintiff to serve hearing notices on the respondents—the PRP, Donald Duke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—ahead of the July 7 hearing.
Kingsley, who participated in the PRP presidential primary held on May 25, 2026, filed the suit on June 10. In his court documents, he stated that he met all the party’s nomination requirements, including paying the ₦20 million nomination fee, obtaining the required endorsements, and successfully completing the screening process.
He further claimed that Duke’s name was absent from the PRP membership register submitted to INEC before the deadline required under electoral regulations. Kingsley also alleged that Duke did not physically attend the party’s screening exercise held between May 15 and May 19, 2026, despite concerns raised about his eligibility.
The suit also alleges widespread over-voting during the primary, citing instances in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara states where the number of votes cast allegedly exceeded the number of registered party members. Kingsley argued that removing the disputed votes would make him the rightful winner of the primary election.
He is asking the court to nullify Duke’s nomination, cancel results from the affected states, declare him the valid PRP presidential candidate, and restrain INEC from recognising Duke as the party’s flagbearer.
Before the primary election, the PRP had cleared three aspirants—Donald Duke, Dr. Nnaoke Ufere, and Yakubu Kingsley—to contest. After reviewing complaints from the exercise, the party’s National Working Committee upheld Duke’s emergence as its presidential candidate.
