Court dismisses suit challenging Donald Duke’s PRP candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging Donald Duke’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party for the 2027 election.

Justice Mohammed Umar held on Wednesday that the suit filed by Yakubu Kingsley was statute-barred, according to Premium Times.

The judge upheld preliminary objections by Duke and the PRP after finding that the pre-election case was filed outside the time allowed by Section 285(9) of the Constitution. Premium Times reported that the suit was filed on June 10, 16 days after the PRP presidential primary.

Daily Post reported that the court also resolved the substantive issues in favour of the respondents, including PRP, Duke and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The court also considered questions raised around Duke’s membership of the party. Daily Post said the court resolved those issues in favour of the respondents. The ruling leaves his PRP candidacy undisturbed unless a higher court decides otherwise.

Sources: Premium Times, Daily Post