Dr. Yakubu Kingsley says he will appeal the judgment dismissing his challenge to Donald Duke’s PRP presidential candidacy for the 2027 election.
Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Kingsley, a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has vowed to appeal the Federal High Court judgment upholding former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Kingsley disclosed this on Thursday in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, a day after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dismissed his suit challenging Duke’s candidacy.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, was dismissed after the court upheld preliminary objections filed by Duke and the PRP.
Justice Umar held that the case was statute-barred because it was a pre-election matter filed outside the 14-day period prescribed under Section 285(9) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The court also considered the substantive issues raised by Kingsley and resolved them in favour of Duke, the PRP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kingsley had challenged Duke’s emergence from the PRP presidential primary conducted on May 25, 2026. He filed the suit on June 10, 16 days after the primary results were made public.
The aspirant had argued that the 14-day period should begin from June 6, when the PRP appeal committee communicated its decision on his complaint. Justice Umar rejected that position and held that the action was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed period.
Among the issues raised by Kingsley were allegations concerning Duke’s membership of the PRP, the party’s screening process and alleged over-voting during the presidential primary in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states.
On the membership issue, the court held that membership of a political party was an internal party matter and therefore outside its jurisdiction.
The court also found that Kingsley had not placed before it the party guidelines he alleged were breached during the screening exercise.
Regarding the allegation of over-voting, the court held that the plaintiff failed to provide the party’s membership register, accreditation records and final primary election results needed to substantiate the claim.
Reacting to the judgment, Kingsley said its delivery came as a surprise to him, his legal team and his supporters, particularly because judgment had previously been scheduled for November 2.
He said the judgment was delivered 32 days earlier than the previously scheduled date and without prior notice to him as the plaintiff, adding that his legal team would examine the circumstances surrounding its delivery.
“I have therefore instructed my team of lawyers to obtain and thoroughly study the full judgment, examine its findings and reasoning, and take all appropriate legal steps, including an appeal to the Court of Appeal,” Kingsley said.
He stressed that his decision to appeal was not intended as disrespect to the Federal High Court or its judge, but as an exercise of his right to challenge a judgment with which he was dissatisfied.
Kingsley also reaffirmed his confidence in the judiciary, saying he would continue to pursue the matter through the courts and within the framework of Nigeria’s Constitution and laws.
He appealed to members of the YMK Nigeria Project, PRP supporters and the general public to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.
The aspirant said he would not resort to confrontation or actions outside the law, while assuring supporters that his lawyers would pursue the appellate process with diligence and respect for democratic institutions.
The Federal High Court’s ruling leaves Duke’s emergence as the PRP’s presidential candidate intact for now, subject to any further proceedings arising from Kingsley’s proposed appeal.
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