Kingsley Chinda, following a current judgment by the Supreme Court. 
The Rivers Situation chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed concerns over the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Hon.
The development is relevant to a suit pending prior to the Abuja Federal High Court, in which ALDRAP is the plaintiff, whilst INEC, Abdul Mahmud, APC, the APC Domestic Chairman, Chinda and Mariana Ajibola are listed as respondents.
The Supreme Court, in the judgment, emphasised compliance including Component 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, which requires political parties to submit their verified register of members to the Individual Countrywide Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days prior to conducting their key elections.
There have been calls on social media platforms for the electoral umpire to immediately disqualify Chinda, a loyalist of the Minister of the Federal Investment Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Some political opponents and legal commentators have argued that, as a serving lawmaker, Chinda’s right defection should be regarded as having taken result on the date it was announced on the floor of the House.
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, ALDRAP is asking the Abuja Federal High Court to disqualify Chinda and APC candidates for the Rivers Status House of Assembly election.
“There is no atom of truth in that. They said 21 days, and Hon. Chinda’s timing was 24 days when you calculate it.
DAILY PUBLISH reports that Chinda, a participant of the House of Representatives, registered using the APC on April 27, 2026.
In its letter to INEC, ALDRAP moreover questioned the declare of the APC governorship nomination, the functional membership-register requirements, records submitted to the electoral commission by the party and the steps required to offer influence to the Supreme Court judgment.
His announced defection at the Green Chamber came later than he had been declared the winner of the APC principal election conducted on May 21.
‘We have no issues together with our candidate’ — APC
Following the Supreme Court judgment, the Collaboration of Legislative Drafting Practitioners, ALDRAP, wrote to INEC, seeking the handbook disqualification of Chinda from the 2027 governorship race.
ALDRAP writes INEC, seeks Chinda’s disqualification
He, nevertheless, formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and defection to the APC on the floor of the House of Representatives on June 2, 2026.
DAILY ARTICLE reports that the judgment, delivered by the apex court on September 24, 2026, has sparked a legal discuss over the implications of the decision for Chinda’s candidacy.
The development has prompted questions over whether the judgment could influence Chinda’s eligibility to contest the 2027 Rivers Situation governorship election on the platform of the APC.
Speaking together with DAILY UPLOAD, Chibike noted that the Supreme Court judgment requires a candidate to have been a person of a political party for at least 21 days earlier than its primary, adding that Chinda registered including the APC 24 days ahead of the party’s central election was conducted.
The solicit was contained in a letter dated September 26, 2026, and signed by ALDRAP’s Executive Secretary, Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja.
Reacting to the controversy on Sunday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers Situation, Ikenga Chibike, dismissed the concerns and said the party had no concern including Chinda’s candidacy.
The collection raised concerns over the composition of the APC Rivers Situation Governorship and House of Assembly Interest Committee, alleging that it was populated by Wike’s friends and Chinda’s colleagues who are members of the Countrywide Assembly.
“So, we have no challenges using our party candidate. We are praying that the Rainbow Coalition endorsement should be him, then we transfer on to winning the election,” Ikenga said.
Rivers: APC addresses calls for disqualification of Wike’s ally, Chinda over Supreme Court verdict
Source: Rivers: APC addresses calls for disqualification of Wike’s ally, Chinda over Supreme Court verdict
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