Rivers 2027: APC Backs Chinda, Rejects Disqualification Calls

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has defended the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, following fresh calls for his disqualification after a recent Supreme Court judgment.

The controversy followed the September 24, 2026, decision of the Supreme Court, which restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 dealing with political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates. The ruling has raised questions about whether Chinda met the requirements to participate in the APC governorship primary held in Rivers State.

The restored provisions include Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7), which set rules for party membership registers submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission. Under Section 77(5), only members whose names appear on the register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a party primary can participate in the exercise. Section 77(6) requires parties to use the submitted register for their primaries, while Section 77(7) provides consequences for parties that fail to submit the required register.

The development has led to questions about Chinda’s eligibility because of the timing of his movement from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.

Chinda, a member of the House of Representatives, registered with the APC on April 27, 2026. He later formally announced his resignation from the PDP and defection to the APC on the floor of the House on June 2.

His defection announcement came after he had already been declared the winner of the APC governorship primary conducted on May 21, 2026.

The timing has been questioned by political opponents and legal commentators, who argue that his formal defection as a serving lawmaker should be tied to the date it was announced on the floor of the House. The dispute has since triggered calls for the Independent National Electoral Commission to review his eligibility.

ALDRAP, the Association of Legislative Drafting Practitioners, has also asked INEC to disqualify Chinda from the 2027 Rivers governorship election following the Supreme Court judgment.

The group made the request in a letter dated September 26, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja.

The request is linked to a case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with ALDRAP as the plaintiff and INEC, Abdul Mahmud, the APC, its national chairman, Chinda and Mariana Ajibola as respondents.

In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, the group is seeking the disqualification of Chinda and APC candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly election.

ALDRAP has also raised concerns about the composition of the APC Rivers State Governorship and House of Assembly Appeal Committee. The group alleged that some members of the committee had political or professional links with Chinda and individuals associated with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

In its latest communication to INEC, the group questioned the status of the APC governorship nomination, the party’s membership register, documents submitted to the electoral commission and the steps required following the Supreme Court judgment.

However, the Rivers APC has rejected the concerns and maintained that Chinda remains its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Ikenga Chibike, said the Supreme Court’s 21-day membership requirement did not disqualify Chinda. According to the APC spokesman, Chinda registered with the party 24 days before the May 21 governorship primary, which the party considers sufficient to meet the requirement.

The APC therefore maintains that there is no legal problem with Chinda’s candidacy and expects him to remain its candidate as preparations for the 2027 election continue. The Supreme Court judgment itself did not specifically order Chinda’s disqualification; the present dispute concerns how the restored Electoral Act provisions apply to his particular nomination.