The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Kingsley Ogundu Chinda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Rivers State in the 2027 election. The request, made in a letter dated September 26, 2027, and signed by ALDRAP’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, stems from an ongoing legal suit filed in the Abuja Federal High Court. The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, names INEC, Abdul Mahmud, APC National Chairman, Chinda, and Mariana Ajibola as respondents.
ALDRAP is challenging the legitimacy of Chinda’s nomination, arguing that the APC Rivers State Governorship and House of Assembly Appeal Committee was composed of individuals closely linked to Chinda, including members of the House of Representatives. The association claims this creates a reasonable apprehension of bias and violates Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair hearing. The suit seeks a declaration that Mahmud and Ajibola’s appointments as chairmen of the screening and appeal committees were unconstitutional due to their personal and political ties with Chinda and allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Among the reliefs sought are orders compelling Chinda to testify under oath about his relationships with Mahmud and Ajibola, and nullifying the entire screening process conducted by the APC. ALDRAP also wants the court to declare the nomination process flawed and legally invalid. Despite these legal challenges, the association has now urged INEC to initiate an out-of-court settlement meeting to resolve the matter swiftly and avoid prolonged litigation.
This development comes in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, which upheld INEC’s authority under the Electoral Act 2026. A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Act, which govern party membership registers and candidate nominations. The ruling overturned earlier decisions by the Court of Appeal and restored the Federal High Court’s position, dismissing appeals by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Youth Party (YP).
In its letter to INEC, ALDRAP emphasized that the Supreme Court’s decision intensifies scrutiny over Chinda’s nomination, particularly regarding compliance with statutory requirements. The association stressed that it does not seek to undermine the court’s judgment but aims to facilitate a lawful resolution through dialogue. It called for urgent consultations between INEC, ALDRAP, the APC, and Chinda to address issues related to membership records, nomination procedures, and administrative actions required to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling.
ALDRAP believes that resolving the matter through constructive engagement will prevent unnecessary legal proceedings and help maintain electoral transparency and constitutional compliance. The association’s intervention underscores growing concerns about fairness and impartiality in Nigeria’s electoral processes, especially as states prepare for upcoming elections. This case may set a precedent for how political party primaries are scrutinized in future elections across the country.
Leave a Comment