An aggrieved presidential aspirant of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Yakubu Mohammed Kingsley, has vowed to appeal the Federal High Court judgment dismissing his suit challenging the emergence of former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Kingsley disclosed this on Thursday in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, titled, “YMK: I Will Appeal Federal High Court Judgment on PRP Presidential Primary.”

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Wednesday dismissed Kingsley’s suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1234/2026, challenging Duke’s emergence as the PRP presidential candidate.

The judge held that the suit was statute-barred, having been filed outside the period prescribed for pre-election matters under Section 285(9) of the Constitution.

Justice Umar said the PRP presidential primary was held on May 25 and its result made public thereafter, while Kingsley filed the suit on June 10, beyond the 14-day period stipulated for pre-election cases.

Kingsley had argued that the 14-day period should have commenced on June 6, when the party’s Primaries Appeal Committee communicated its decision on his complaint. The judge rejected the argument and held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit because it was statute-barred.

However, Justice Umar also considered the substantive issues raised by Kingsley and dismissed them, holding that the plaintiff failed to prove his claims.

Reacting to the judgment, Kingsley said he was surprised by the decision but remained confident in the judiciary.

“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,” he said.

Kingsley said the judgment was particularly surprising because the matter had previously been scheduled for judgment on November 2, 2026.

“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,” he said.

He said he had instructed his lawyers to obtain and study the full judgment before taking further legal steps.

“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.

Kingsley said his decision to pursue an appeal was consistent with his confidence in the judicial process and the rule of law.

According to him, he remained “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.

He appealed to his supporters, members of the YMK Nigeria Project and the general public to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.

Kingsley said he would not resort to confrontation or any action outside the law, adding that his legal team would pursue the appellate process with diligence and respect for democratic institutions.

“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, challenged Duke’s eligibility to contest the PRP presidential primary, alleging that the former governor was not a registered member of the party when the PRP submitted its membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 4.

He also alleged that Duke failed to physically appear for screening at the party’s national secretariat and therefore ought not to have been cleared to participate in the primary.

Justice Umar, however, held that membership of a political party was an internal affair of the party and was not justiciable in the circumstances of the case. The judge also noted that although Kingsley referred to PRP guidelines which he alleged Duke had violated, he failed to produce the guidelines before the court.

Kingsley further challenged the results of the primary in Bauchi, Gombe and Kwara states, alleging over-voting.

He asked the court to set aside the results from the three states and declare him the PRP presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The judge rejected the over-voting claim, holding that Kingsley failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish the allegation.

Kingsley also sought an order directing INEC not to recognise Duke as the PRP presidential candidate and to instead recognise him as the party’s flagbearer.

Duke’s emergence followed the PRP presidential primary held on May 25, after which the party’s Primaries Appeal Committee reviewed the process and the National Working Committee subsequently cleared him as the party’s candidate.