News Investigators/ Yakubu Kingsley, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)’s presidential aspirat, has said that he would appealed the judgment affirming Mr Donald Duke as the party’s validly nominated candidate for the 2027 election.
Mr Kingsley made this known on Thursday in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAaN) reports that Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court in Abuja 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 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.
But dissatisfied with the judgment, the aspirant said though the judgment came as a surprise, he still had confident in the judiciary.
“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 Nov. 2,.
“ Wednesday’s judgment was delivered 32 days earlier. It 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, he remains 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.”
NAN