Donald Duke Court Case: Federal High Court Adjourns Suit to June 29

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the Donald Duke court case challenging the emergence of former Cross River State governor Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) until June 29.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Abdullahi Muhammad, requested the adjournment to allow his team to file a motion for substituted service of court documents on Duke.

When the case first came before Justice Mohammed Umar, only the plaintiff’s lawyer appeared in court. Muhammad informed the court that while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received the originating summons, efforts to serve Duke had failed.

The Donald Duke court case could not proceed because lawyers representing the PRP, Duke and INEC were absent when the matter came up for hearing on Monday.

Muhammad asked the court for a short adjournment to enable him move a motion for substituted service on Duke. Justice Umar granted the request and fixed June 29 for mention and hearing of the motion.

The suit was filed by PRP presidential aspirant Yakubu Kingsley against the PRP, Duke and INEC. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, seeks to challenge Duke’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate.

Kingsley argued that Duke was not a registered member of the PRP when the party submitted its membership register to INEC on May 4. He asked the court to determine whether Duke validly contested and won the party’s May 25 presidential primary.

The plaintiff also seeks a declaration that Duke was ineligible to participate in the primary election. He further urged the court to nullify the results from Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states over alleged overvoting and declare him the PRP presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.