I will appeal judgment affirming Duke’s candidacy – PRP aspirant

The aggrieved Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)’s presidential aspirant, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Kingsley (YMK) has vowed to appeal the judgment affirming Mr Donald Duke as party’s valdily nominated candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

Kingsley made this known on Friday via a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and titied: “YMK: I Will Appeal Federal High Court Judgment on PRP Presidential Primary.”

Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court in Abuja had on Wednesday dismissed Kingsley’s suit, seeking to void the emergence of Duke, former Governor of Cross River, as PRP presidential candidate.

Justice Umar, who ruled that the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, was statute barred, held that being a pre-election matter, it was filed in violation of the provision of Section 285(9) of the Constitution.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the aspirant has vowed to appeal against the lower court decision.

“The judgment came as a surprise, but I remain confident in the Judiciary

“I have received with respect the judgment delivered on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in the suit I instituted challenging the emergence of Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election.

“While I respect the judgment of the court, I must state that its delivery came to me, my legal team and our supporters as a surprise and profound shock, particularly because judgment had previously been scheduled for November 2, 2026, making Wednesday’s decision 32 days earlier than the date previously known to us.

“The judgment was delivered without prior notice to me as the plaintiff, and this is one of the circumstances my legal team will carefully examine.

“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.

“My decision to appeal is not an act of disrespect to the Federal High Court or its learned Judge; it is the lawful right available to a party who is dissatisfied with a judgment,” he said.

According to him, I remain a firm believer in the sanctity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

“It is precisely because I believe in the judicial process that I have chosen to pursue this matter through the courts and within the framework of the constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Kingsley, therefore, called on his “supporters, members of the YMK (Yakubu Mohammed Kingsley) Nigeria Project and the general public to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding.”

He said he would not resort to confrontation or actions outside the law.

“Our lawyers will carefully study the judgment and pursue the appropriate appellate process with diligence, professionalism, and respect for the institutions of our democracy.

“I remain confident that the judicial process will provide the appropriate avenue for the issues arising from this matter to receive further consideration,” he said.

Kingsley had, in his originating summons, urged the court to determine whether Duke was validly returned as the party’s presidential candidate in the May 25 primary election, having allegedly not been a registered member of the PRP when the party submitted its membership register to INEC on May 4.

He sought a declaration that Duke was ineligible to participate in the primary election and ought not to have been cleared to contest, having allegedly failed to physically appear for screening at the party’s national secretariat.

The plaintiff also prayed the court to set aside the results from Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara , who had alleged over-voting and declared him the PRP presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

He further sought an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise Duke as the party’s presidential flagbearer and to instead recognise him as the PRP’s candidate.