Port Harcourt, River state — September 28, 2026.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has defended the candidacy of its 2027 governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, following calls for his disqualification over issues surrounding party membership and the recent Supreme Court judgment.
On September 24, 2026, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment that restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. These provisions strictly mandate political parties to submit their verified membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting primary elections.
Follow DDNewsOnline on Facebook For More Breaking News
Challengers argue that Chinda’s recent defection to the APC and subsequent nomination did not comply with this statutory 21-day timeline, alleging his name was not properly captured on the submitted register when the primary took place.
Critics, including human rights advocates, point out that Chinda served as the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They claim he did not follow proper constitutional procedures to defect—such as formally announcing it on the floor of the House—meaning his dual political footprint invalidates his eligibility to fly the APC flag.
Hon. Kingsley Chinda formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 23, 2026. According to records provided by his supporters, he subsequently completed his official digital registration on the APC membership portal on April 27, 2026.
Follow And Like Us On Tiktok
While the official notice of his defection and his resignation as House Minority Leader were formally read on the floor of the House of Representatives later on June 2, 2026, the defection letter submitted to the Green Chamber was backdated to his initial April 23, 2026 move.The APC conducted its Rivers State governorship primary on May 21, 2026.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has dismissed allegations regarding the qualification of its governorship candidate, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, labeling them as baseless propaganda and misinformation. The party maintains that Chinda remains fully qualified for the 2027 election, having completed his party registration and met all statutory pre-primary timelines
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will review the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment before determining how it applies to the eligibility of political candidates, including Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
As of late September 2026, INEC has not disqualified Chinda or altered his status. His name remains officially published on the commission’s election portal. However, following the ruling, the civil society group Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) formally petitioned INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, demanding an urgent administrative review and an out-of-court settlement to address the “consequential issues” of Chinda’s nomination.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
For Breaking News And More Follow Us On Instagram
Chinda and the Rivers State APC maintain that he registered 24 days before the primary, legally putting his name on the portal within the court-affirmed timeframe. Under Nigerian electoral frameworks, a published candidate cannot be disqualified by mere public text—only a specific federal high court ruling can command INEC to strike a candidate’s name.
If ongoing or future lawsuits prove that the APC had already finalized and frozen its register before his portal registration went through on April 27, 2026, the strict enforcement mandated by the Supreme Court means the lower courts would be legally forced to nullify his primary victory.
The Rivers State APC continues its campaign for Hon. Kingsley Chinda, while opponents prepare to challenge his nomination using the Supreme Court ruling. The final determination depends on a Federal High Court decision, as only a formal court order can compel INEC to remove his name from the ballot.
By: Komolafe Barakah