The Federal High Court has adjourned until Nov. 2 for judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of former governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke of Cross Rivers, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general elections. Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date on Tuesday in Abuja after counsel for the plaintiff, Abdullahi Muhammad; Duke’s lawyer, Noah Abdul; and Azubuike Ogochukwu, who appeared for INEC, adopted their processes in the case.
An aspirant, Dr Yakubu Kingsley, filed the suit to challenge the emergence of Duke as presidential candidate of PRP. Kingsley, through his lawyer, sued the PRP, Duke and INEC as the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively. The plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, sought three questions for determination in the originating summons filed on June 10.
The plaintiff wants the court to determine whether Duke was duly returned as the presidential candidate of PRP in the May 25 primary election, in which its results were declared on May 26, having not been a registered member of the party as of May 4, when the PRP’s membership register was submitted to INEC. He also prayed the court to declare overvoting in states like Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara. He, therefore, sought a declaration that the ex-governor, not being a registered member of the PRP, cannot participate in the party’s primary election held on May 25, where he was declared the winner on May 26.
He sought a declaration that Duke ought not to have been cleared for the presidential primary election contest, having not complied with the guidelines of the party to physically present for the screening at its national secretariat. Kingsley prayed the court for an order setting aside the results of the presidential election conducted in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara, respectively, on the grounds of overvoting. He sought an order declaring him as the presidential candidate of PRP for the 2027 general elections, having complied with all the party’s guidelines and been a registered member of the party.
He also sought an order directing the commission not to recognise Duke as PRP’s presidential flagbearer or to delete his name from its database as the presidential candidate of the party. The plaintiff further sought an order directing the electoral umpire to recognise him as PRP’s presidential candidate. In the affidavit in support of the…
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