PRP Crisis: Court Sets New Date for Suit Challenging Donald Duke’s Candidacy

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a lawsuit that contests the emergence of former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). The matter, which came before Justice Mohammed Umar on Monday, proceeded with only the plaintiff’s counsel present.

Abdullahi Muhammad, representing PRP aspirant Yakubu Kingsley, informed the court that while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been served with the originating summons, efforts to serve Duke personally had failed.

Muhammad therefore requested a brief adjournment to file a motion for substituted service of court processes on the former governor, who is listed as the second defendant.

Justice Umar granted the request and rescheduled the case for mention and hearing of the substituted service motion on June 29.

Counsel for the PRP, Donald Duke, and INEC were absent when the case was called.

The suit, filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, names the PRP, Duke, and INEC as the first, second, and third defendants respectively. It was instituted through counsel D.A. Sulyman and seeks to nullify Duke’s declaration as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

In the originating summons lodged 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 results were announced on May 26.

The plaintiff alleges that Duke was not a registered member of the PRP as of May 4, the date the party’s membership register was submitted to INEC. Consequently, he argues that Duke could not lawfully participate in the presidential primary.

Kingsley also requests the court to annul the results of the presidential primaries held in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara states, citing alleged over‑voting, and to declare him the rightful PRP presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.