The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that a recent Supreme Court judgment puts the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, in doubt.
The apex court, in a judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, stressed compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act. The provisions require political parties to submit a verified register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting primary elections.
The ruling has triggered a legal and political debate over whether it affects Chinda’s bid to contest the 2027 Rivers governorship election on the APC platform.
Chinda, a serving member of the House of Representatives, registered with the APC on April 27, 2026. He formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his defection to the APC on the floor of the House on June 2, 2026. That announcement came after he had already been declared winner of the APC primary held on May 21.
Some opponents and legal commentators argue that, as a sitting lawmaker, his defection should be treated as taking effect only from the date it was announced in the Green Chamber. Calls have circulated on social media for INEC to disqualify him. Chinda is widely described as a loyalist of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Following the Supreme Court decision, the Association of Legislative Drafting Practitioners (ALDRAP) wrote to INEC on September 26, 2026, asking for Chinda’s immediate disqualification from the 2027 race. The letter was signed by ALDRAP’s Executive Secretary, Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja.
The request is tied to a suit pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026. ALDRAP is the plaintiff. Respondents include INEC, Abdul Mahmud, the APC, the APC National Chairman, Chinda and Mariana Ajibola.
In the suit, ALDRAP is seeking the disqualification of Chinda and APC candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly election. The group also raised concerns about the composition of the APC Rivers Governorship and House of Assembly Appeal Committee, alleging it was stacked with Wike’s associates and Chinda’s National Assembly colleagues.
ALDRAP’s letter to INEC further questioned the status of the APC governorship nomination, membership-register requirements, records submitted by the party to the commission, and what steps INEC must take to give effect to the Supreme Court judgment.
Rivers APC Publicity Secretary Ikenga Chibike rejected the controversy. He told Newmen that the party has no problem with Chinda’s candidacy.
Chibike said the Supreme Court judgment requires a candidate to have been a party member for at least 21 days before the primary, and that Chinda registered with the APC 24 days before the May 21 primary.
“There is no atom of truth in that. They said 21 days, and Hon. Chinda’s timing was 24 days when you calculate it.
“So, we have no challenges with our party candidate. We are praying that the Rainbow Coalition endorsement should be him, then we move on to winning the election,” he said.
