Rivers APC Confirms Kingsley Chinda's Candidacy Validity

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has refuted claims circulating on social media that the Supreme Court has invalidated the governorship candidacy of Kingsley Chinda, also known as O.K. Chinda.

Chibuike Ikenga, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers State, stated in a telephone interview with Sunday Tribune that Chinda is fully qualified and cleared for the upcoming election. Ikenga characterized the reports as baseless and emphasized that the recent Supreme Court judgment, delivered on September 24, 2026, regarding party registers does not negatively impact Chinda's candidacy.

The Supreme Court's ruling enforced compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, which requires political parties to submit verified member registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 30 days before primary elections. Despite arguments from political opponents that Chinda's defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, formally announced on June 2, 2026, was after the deadline for submitting membership registers, Ikenga confirmed that the Supreme Court did not issue any order nullifying Chinda's candidacy.