APC Defends Kingsley Chinda's Candidacy Amid Disqualification Calls

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly rejected calls for the disqualification of its 2027 governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda. The party stated that a Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, does not impact Chinda's eligibility.

This judgment reinstated the requirement for political parties to submit verified membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before primary elections. Chinda, who registered as an APC member on April 27, 2026, participated in the party's primary on May 21, 2026, after announcing his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on June 2, 2026.

Legal challenges have arisen regarding his eligibility, particularly since his formal defection occurred after the primary. ALDRAP has filed a suit in the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking Chinda's disqualification.

The APC maintains that Chinda met the 21-day membership requirement, with Publicity Secretary Ikenga Chibike asserting that he had been an APC member for 24 days before the primary.