The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled November 2 for its final judgment regarding a legal challenge against the nomination of former Cross River Governor Donald Duke as the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. Justice Mohammed Umar announced the date on Tuesday after legal representatives for the plaintiff, the defendants, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finalized their submissions.
The lawsuit was initiated by Dr. Yakubu Kingsley, a fellow aspirant, who claims that Duke was not a registered member of the party when its official register was submitted to INEC on May 4. Kingsley argues that Duke’s participation in the May 25 primary was invalid due to his non-membership and failure to attend mandatory screening sessions. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges irregularities in voting processes across Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara states, requesting the court to set aside those results and declare him the party’s legitimate candidate.
Defense counsel Noah Abdul has moved for the dismissal of the suit, asserting that the court lacks jurisdiction. He contends that the action was filed 17 days after the primary results were announced, exceeding the 14-day statutory limit for pre-election matters mandated by the Nigerian Constitution. Additionally, the defense argues that party membership disputes are internal affairs beyond the court’s reach.
INEC maintained its neutral stance, stating that its role was limited to monitoring the primary proceedings. The commission clarified that the responsibility for managing the election, tallying results, and declaring a winner resided solely with the PRP. INEC emphasized that it remains a neutral observer and must abide by the law regarding candidate recognition unless instructed otherwise by a judicial ruling.
