The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided by Justice Mohammed Umar, on Monday fixed July 7 for hearing in a suit challenging the eligibility Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the People's Redemption Party, PRP, in the 2027 general elections.
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‎The suit, filed by aggrieved PRP presidential aspirant, Yakubu Kingsley, challenges Duke of failing to meet key requirements, including party membership registration and compliance with screening guidelines. He also alleged widespread irregularities, such as over-voting during the party’s primary.
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‎At the beginning of proceedings o Monday, counsel to the plaintiff, Felix Ipogah, informed the Judge that the case which was meant to get leave to serve Duke the required court documents to notify him of the pending lawsuit.
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‎The lawyer, then, informed the court that it has become unnecessary as the party's presidential candidate has filed a preliminary objection to the suit alongside an affidavit.
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‎Ipogah, thereby, withdrew his ex parte application, which was promptly struck out by the Justice Umar.

The judge further ordered the counsel to the plaintiff to ensure service of hearing notices on the respondents - PRP, Donald Duke and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, - to be aware of July 7, the next date for the hearing of the matter.
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‎Kingsley, who contested the PRP presidential primary held on May 25, 2026, with results declared the following day, instituted the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026 on June 10.
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‎The plaintiff highlighted alleged over-voting in specific states: in Bauchi, 760 votes were recorded against 593 registered members; in Gombe, 1,431 votes against 348 members; and in Kwara, 82 votes against 55 members. He argues that excluding these irregularities would position him as the candidate with the highest lawful votes.
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‎The PRP had screened and cleared three presidential aspirants — Duke, Dr. Nnaoke Ufere, and Kingsley — before conducting its primary. The party’s National Working Committee later affirmed Duke as the candidate, following a review by its Primaries Appeal Committee.