Port Harcourt / Abuja — Opposition parties and a legal advocacy group have declared that Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State and a close ally of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, is no longer qualified to contest the 2027 election, citing a recent Supreme Court judgment on party membership registers.
The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday stated that the apex court’s ruling of September 24, 2026, has effectively nullified Chinda’s candidacy.
The judgment reaffirmed Sections 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, which require political parties to submit their verified register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting primary elections.
ADC Rivers Publicity Secretary Chizi Enyi argued that Chinda registered with the APC on April 27, 2026, while the party conducted its National Assembly primaries on May 16. That left only 19 days — short of the mandatory 21-day requirement.
Enyi further claimed reports indicated the APC had already submitted its membership register by April 24 (before an INEC extension to May 10), meaning Chinda joined after the register reached the electoral body. “It is an obvious fact that Chinda is not qualified to run in the election. Or is APC telling us that they submitted multiple registers to the INEC?” he said.
Chinda, who previously served as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged as the sole APC governorship aspirant in Rivers after other contenders, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, withdrew.
He was declared the winner of the May 21, 2026 primary with 268,497 votes. His formal resignation from the PDP and announcement of defection to the APC were read on the floor of the House on June 2, 2026 — after the primary. His resignation letter was dated April 23.
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has written to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan seeking Chinda’s immediate disqualification and an urgent meeting with the APC and the candidate to explore an out-of-court resolution.
The request, dated September 26 and signed by Executive Secretary Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, is linked to a pending suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026) at the Federal High Court in Abuja. In that case, ALDRAP is challenging aspects of the APC screening and appeal processes in Rivers, alleging bias involving individuals connected to Chinda and Wike.
The group is also questioning the status of the APC nomination, membership records submitted to INEC, and steps needed to implement the Supreme Court decision.
The Rivers APC has rejected the claims. State Publicity Secretary Ikenga Chibike said Chinda registered 24 days before the May 21 governorship primary, meeting the 21-day threshold. “There is no atom of truth in that. They said 21 days, and Hon. Chinda’s timing was 24 days when you calculate it. So, we have no challenges with our party candidate,” he told reporters. The party maintains that the Supreme Court did not issue any direct order nullifying the ticket.
The controversy has intensified political tensions in Rivers State, where Wike’s influence has shaped APC nominations, clearing many of his allies while screening out several loyalists of Governor Fubara. Legal commentators note that questions also linger over the precise effective date of Chinda’s defection as a sitting lawmaker and whether the APC’s submitted membership register properly included him before the primaries.
As of Monday, neither INEC nor any court has formally disqualified Chinda. The matter remains before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with ALDRAP pressing for administrative action in light of the Supreme Court ruling. The development adds another layer of uncertainty to the 2027 Rivers governorship race amid ongoing factional disputes within the state APC.
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