Presidential Aspirant Sues Former Governor Over ‘Flawed’ PRP Primary

A disgruntled PRP presidential aspirant has filed a lawsuit against Donald Duke, challenging his official selection as the party's 2027 presidential candidate.

Daniel Momodu · June 21, 2026 · 8

An internal crisis has hit the leadership of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) ahead of the 2027 general elections, as an aggrieved presidential aspirant has dragged the party’s flagbearer and former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, before a Federal High Court. The lawsuit challenges the legitimacy of Duke's emergence as the party's official 2027 presidential ticket holder, alleging massive procedural breaches during the national primary convention.

The plaintiff is asking the court to nullify the presentation of the flag and certificates of return to Donald Duke, claiming that the internal election process violated both the party's constitution and statutory provisions of the Electoral Act.

In the filed affidavits, the aggrieved aspirant contends that the party’s national leadership, led by National Chairman Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, sidestepped crucial delegate verification processes. The plaintiff claims this lack of oversight allowed non-accredited individuals to vote, heavily skewing the primary outcome in favor of Donald Duke.

Conversely, allies of the former governor have dismissed the lawsuit as a distraction orchestrated by elements seeking to destabilize the party's rising national appeal. At the presentation ceremony, Duke declared himself a "messenger of ordinary Nigerians," maintaining that his emergence reflected the true democratic will of the party's grassroots base.

The Federal High Court has yet to fix a definitive date for the preliminary hearings. Legal analysts point out that if the court uncovers substantial compliance failures regarding internal party democracy, it could compel the PRP to conduct a fresh national convention under strict regulatory monitoring.

Despite the courtroom drama, the PRP national executive has urged members to remain calm and focused, insisting that internal friction is common in expanding political platforms and expressing absolute confidence that their legal teams will vindicate the primary process.