PRP Faces Court Battle Over Donald Duke’s Eligibility As Presidential Candidate

PRP faces legal challenge as rival aspirant contests Donald Duke’s eligibility ahead of July 7 court hearing.

The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) is now embroiled in a full-scale suit over the eligibility of its presidential candidate, Donald Duke, as another aspirant in the party claims that the former Cross River state governor failed to meet all the eligibility requirements.‎‎A judge of a Federal High Court in Abuja has now fixed July 7 for hearing of the suit following proceedings on Monday.‎‎The suit, filed by aggrieved PRP presidential aspirant Yakubu Kingsley, accuses Duke of failing to meet key requirements, including party membership registration and compliance with screening guidelines. He also alleges widespread irregularities such as over-voting during the party’s primary.‎‎At the start of proceedings Monday, counsel for the plaintiff, Felix Ipogah, informed the Judge, Mohammed Umar, that the case which was meant to get leave to serve Duke the required court documents notifying him of the pending lawsuit.‎‎The lawyer then informed the court that it has become unnecessary as the party’s presidential candidate has filed a preliminary objection to the suit alongside an affidavit, making an all clear for the main case to get underway.‎‎Ipogah thereby withdrew his ex parte application which was promptly struck out by Justice Umar. The judge further ordered the counsel to the plaintiff to ensure service of hearing notices on the respondents – PRP, Donald Duke and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – to be aware of July 7 the next date for the hearing of the matter.‎‎Kingsley, who contested the PRP presidential primary held on May 25, 2026 (with results declared the following day), instituted the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026 on June 10.‎‎The defendants are the PRP (1st), Donald Duke (2nd), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the 3rd defendant.‎‎In the originating summons and supporting affidavit, Kingsley claims he fulfilled all nomination requirements, paid N20 million for expression of interest and nomination forms, secured necessary endorsements, and was duly screened and cleared by the party.‎‎He alleges that Duke was not listed as a registered member of the PRP in the membership register submitted to INEC on May 4, 2026 — a deadline tied to INEC regulations requiring parties to submit such registers at least 21 days before primaries.‎‎Kingsley further contends that Duke did not physically participate in the party’s screening exercise conducted at the national secretariat between May 15 and 19, 2026, and that several objections to his eligibility were raised but disregarded.‎‎The plaintiff highlighted alleged over-voting in specific states: in Bauchi, 760 votes were recorded against 593 registered members; in Gombe, 1,431 votes against 348 members; and in Kwara, 82 votes against 55 members. He argues that excluding these irregularities would position him as the candidate with the highest lawful votes.‎‎Kingsley is seeking several declarations and orders, including the nullification of Duke’s nomination, setting aside results from the affected states, a declaration of himself as the valid PRP flagbearer, and directives to INEC not to recognize Duke.‎‎The PRP had screened and cleared three presidential aspirants — Duke, Dr. Nnaoke Ufere, and Kingsley — before conducting its primary. The party’s National Working Committee later affirmed Duke as the candidate following a review by its Primaries Appeal Committee.