The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly dismissed concerns over the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, following a Supreme Court judgment on September 24, 2026. The ruling emphasized compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, which mandates political parties to submit verified membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before conducting primary elections. While some legal experts and opponents argue this could disqualify Chinda, the APC insists he meets all requirements.
Chinda, currently a member of the House of Representatives, officially registered with the APC on April 27, 2026. He formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defection to the APC on June 2, 2026, during a session in the Green Chamber. Notably, he was declared winner of the APC’s primary election held on May 21, 2026—24 days after his registration with the party. This timeline, according to APC officials, satisfies the 21-day requirement set by the Supreme Court.
Despite this, critics argue that Chinda’s formal defection should be considered effective only from June 2, making him ineligible for the primary. Some social media users have called on INEC to immediately disqualify Chinda, who is seen as a loyalist of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The controversy has drawn attention from legal bodies, including the Association of Legislative Drafting Practitioners (ALDRAP), which wrote to INEC on September 26, 2026, seeking Chinda’s disqualification.
In a letter signed by ALDRAP’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the group raised concerns about the composition of the APC’s Rivers State Governorship and House of Assembly Appeal Committee, alleging it includes allies of Wike and Chinda’s colleagues in the National Assembly. ALDRAP also questioned the validity of the nomination process and whether the required membership records were submitted to INEC. The group is currently pursuing a suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, in the Abuja Federal High Court, seeking to disqualify Chinda and other APC candidates for the state assembly elections.
Reacting to the allegations, Ikenga Chibike, APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, stated there are no issues with Chinda’s candidacy. He emphasized that Chinda registered 24 days before the primary, fulfilling the Supreme Court’s directive. “There is no atom of truth in that,” Chibike told DAILY POST. “They said 21 days, and Hon. Chinda’s timing was 24 days when you calculate it.” He added that the party remains focused on securing the Rainbow Coalition’s endorsement and winning the 2027 election.
As the legal debate continues, the outcome may influence how political parties manage membership timelines ahead of future elections. The case underscores the importance of strict adherence to electoral laws and could set a precedent for similar disputes across Nigeria.
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