Court Dismisses Suit against Donald Duke’s Emergence as PRP Presidential Candidate

In a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed a legal challenge to Donald Duke's selection as the presidential candidate of the People's Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 election. The plaintiff, Yakubu Muhammed Kingsley, contended that Duke was unfit and ineligible to represent the party. The lawsuit also questioned whether Duke had met the party's membership requirements before filing for candidacy, as he was not registered with the party by May 4.

The court ruled that Kingsley's case lacked merit and was statute-barred because it was filed outside the time limit set by the Constitution. Furthermore, the court dismissed the substantive allegations raised by the plaintiff, finding that the matter of party membership is an internal concern and not within the court's jurisdiction.

The court also found that Kingsley did not provide the necessary documentation to support his claims of over-voting in the primary election in Bauchi, Gombe, and Kwara states. Consequently, the court dismissed the suit and ruled in favor of the PRP, Donald Duke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).