Court to Hear Suit Against Kingsley Chinda's APC Candidacy

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has scheduled a hearing for November 4, 2026, regarding a suit that seeks to disqualify Kingsley Chinda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State. The suit, filed by Samuel Amatonjie, questions the validity of Chinda's defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Amatonjie, representing himself, requested additional time to respond to preliminary objections raised by the respondents' counsel. Chinda, who is currently the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives under the PDP, became the APC candidate after other aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole, and Alabo George-Kelly, withdrew from the primary election.

The suit seeks to determine if Chinda's defection was valid under the 1999 Constitution and whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is obligated to recognize him as the APC candidate for the 2027 election. The case raises significant constitutional questions regarding Chinda's eligibility.