ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until June 29 a suit seeking to nullify the emergence of former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the new date on Monday after counsel for the plaintiff, Abdullahi Muhammad, requested an adjournment to enable him move a motion for substituted service of court documents on Duke.
When the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, was called for the first time, only counsel to the plaintiff was present in court.
Muhammad informed the court that while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been successfully served with the originating summons, efforts to serve Duke had not been successful.
“We, therefore, pray my lord for a short adjournment in order to move a motion for a substituted service on the 2nd defendant (Duke),” he told the court.
Following the application, Justice Umar adjourned proceedings until June 29 for mention and hearing of the motion seeking substituted service.
The suit was filed by an aggrieved PRP presidential aspirant, Dr Yakubu Kingsley, who joined the PRP, Duke and INEC as first, second and third defendants respectively.
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In the originating summons filed on June 10 through his counsel, D.A. Sulyman, Kingsley is asking the court to determine whether Duke was validly returned as the party’s presidential candidate in the May 25 primary election, alleging that he was not a registered member of the party at the time its membership register was submitted to INEC on May 4.
The plaintiff is also challenging the validity of the primary election on grounds of alleged over-voting in some states.
According to the court documents, Kingsley questioned how votes cast in certain states exceeded the number of registered party members. He cited Bauchi State, where the party allegedly had 593 registered members but recorded 760 votes; Gombe State, where 348 registered members allegedly produced 1,431 votes; and Kwara State, where 55 registered members reportedly generated 82 votes.
Kingsley is seeking a declaration that Duke was not qualified to participate in the primary election and should not have been cleared to contest, alleging that he failed to physically appear for screening at the party’s national secretariat.
He also asked the court to invalidate results from Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states due to the alleged over-voting and declare him the lawful presidential candidate of the PRP for the 2027 election.
Additionally, the plaintiff is requesting an order restraining INEC from recognising Duke as the party’s presidential flagbearer and directing the electoral commission to recognise him instead.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Kingsley stated that he is a registered member of the PRP and purchased the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms for N20 million.
“That I physically attended the presidential screening exercise conducted by the party between 15th and 19th May, 2026 at the National Secretariat of the 1st defendant in Abuja as stipulated in the Aspirants Checklist for Screening,” he stated.
Kingsley further claimed that Duke’s name appeared on the list of aspirants despite allegedly not participating physically in the screening exercise alongside other contestants.
He maintained that the primary election was characterised by widespread irregularities and manipulation and argued that the result declared in Duke’s favour did not reflect the lawful votes cast by eligible party members.
“That I verily believe that the purported result declared in favour of 2nd defendant does not represent the lawful votes cast by eligible members of the party.
“That when unlawful and inflated votes are excluded, I emerge as the aspirant who secured the highest lawful votes in the presidential primary election.
“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing the contents to be true and correct in accordance with the Oaths Act,” he stated.