Rivers 2027: ALDRAP Writes INEC, Demands Chinda’s Disqualification

The Association of Legislative Drafting Practitioners, ALDRAP, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to disqualify Kingsley Chinda as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State for the 2027 election, citing issues arising from a pending court case and a recent Supreme Court judgment.

ALDRAP made the request in a letter dated September 26, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, against the background of a suit pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The association is the plaintiff in the case, while INEC, Abdul Mahmud, the APC, its national chairman, Chinda and Mariana Ajibola are listed as respondents.

In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, ALDRAP is asking the Federal High Court to disqualify Chinda and APC candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly election.

The association’s case is based partly on its allegation that the APC Rivers State Governorship and House of Assembly Appeal Committee included people who had political and personal ties with Chinda. It claimed that some of those involved were also members of the House of Representatives.

ALDRAP is seeking a declaration that the appointment of Mahmud and Ajibola as chairmen of the APC Rivers State House of Assembly screening and appeal committees was improper because of their alleged political and personal relationships with Chinda and individuals linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The association argues that the alleged relationships could create a reasonable concern about bias and affect the right to fair hearing protected under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

ALDRAP has also asked the court to compel Chinda to appear and give evidence under oath about his political and personal relationship with Mahmud and Ajibola.

It further wants the court to cancel the screening process conducted by the respondents and set aside the outcome of the exercise.

However, in its latest communication to INEC, the association proposed an out-of-court meeting involving the parties in the case. It said the meeting would help address the issues raised in the suit in light of the implications of a recent Supreme Court decision on the Electoral Act 2026.

The Supreme Court, on September 24, 2026, affirmed INEC’s powers under certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.

A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro overturned an earlier Court of Appeal decision and upheld the constitutional validity of Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026.

The case followed a challenge by the Zenith Labour Party over INEC’s powers to enforce requirements concerning political party membership registers and the conduct of party primaries.

The Supreme Court restored the position of the Federal High Court, which had earlier affirmed INEC’s authority. It also dismissed related appeals filed by the Social Democratic Party and the Youth Party.

Following the judgment, ALDRAP said the legal questions surrounding Chinda’s nomination on the APC platform in Rivers State needed to be addressed.

The association therefore asked INEC to bring together its representatives, the APC and Chinda for discussions aimed at finding a lawful settlement to the dispute.

ALDRAP said the proposed meeting would not require INEC to disregard the Supreme Court’s decision. Instead, it wants the electoral body to consider the effect of the judgment on the APC governorship nomination, membership-register requirements and documents submitted by the party.

The association also wants the parties to determine what administrative steps may be required to comply with the Supreme Court ruling and relevant electoral laws.

ALDRAP said resolving the issues through discussions, where legally possible, could reduce further court proceedings and provide greater clarity on the electoral process ahead of the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.