By Jelili Gbadamosi
The 2027 Rivers State governorship race has opened a fresh legal front following a Supreme Court judgment on political party membership requirements and a subsequent request for the review of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket held by Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
The controversy centres on whether Chinda satisfied the statutory requirements applicable to party membership and participation in a primary election after the Supreme Court restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 dealing with party membership registers and candidate nomination.
The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, on September 24, upheld the validity of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, setting aside an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had invalidated the provisions.
The ruling has since prompted the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over Chinda’s nomination.
In a letter dated September 26, ALDRAP asked INEC to review the legal implications of the Supreme Court judgment on Chinda’s candidature and requested an urgent meeting involving the commission, the APC and the candidate to explore an out-of-court resolution.
The development is linked to a pending Federal High Court case in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, in which ALDRAP is challenging aspects of the APC’s Rivers State screening and nomination process.
Among the issues raised by the association are the composition of the APC Rivers State screening and appeal committees and alleged relationships between some members of the committees and Chinda. ALDRAP contends that the circumstances created concerns about the impartiality of the screening process. These remain allegations before the court, not established findings.
Chinda joined the APC in April 2026 and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate after its primary election on May 21. His formal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was subsequently announced on the floor of the House of Representatives on June 2.
The timing of his APC registration and the party primary has consequently become part of the debate over his eligibility.
However, the Rivers State APC has rejected claims that the Supreme Court judgment automatically invalidated Chinda’s candidacy.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ikenga Chibike, said the candidate met the 21-day membership requirement referenced in the Electoral Act, arguing that Chinda had been an APC member for 24 days before the party conducted its governorship primary.
“There is no atom of truth in that,” Ikenga told DAILY POST, insisting that the party had no issue with its candidate’s eligibility.
The dispute therefore remains centred on the interpretation and application of the restored electoral provisions to Chinda’s particular nomination, as well as the pending court proceedings.
With the 2027 election approaching, attention is now on INEC and the courts to determine what, if any, administrative or legal consequences the Supreme Court judgment has for the Rivers APC governorship ticket.
