Court Upholds Donald Duke’s PRP Presidential Nomination for 2027
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the nomination and return of former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the ruling in a suit filed by another PRP presidential aspirant, Dr Yakubu Kingsley, who had challenged Duke’s emergence as the party’s flagbearer.
The court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the pre-election suit, maintaining that issues concerning membership of a political party fall within the internal affairs of the party.
Justice Umar further held that only a political party has the authority to determine who qualifies as its member.
Kingsley had challenged Duke’s emergence from the PRP presidential primary, arguing that Duke was not a registered member of the party at the time its membership register was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Duke emerged as the PRP presidential candidate after the party’s primary election held on May 25, 2026, with the result announced the following day. Kingsley subsequently approached the court seeking, among other reliefs, the nullification of Duke’s nomination.
The court’s decision therefore leaves Duke as the PRP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, subject to any further legal proceedings or appeals.
Court Upholds Donald Duke’s PRP Presidential Nomination for 2027