Centre Faults Suit Against Chinda, Says Rivers APC Candidate Complied With Constitutional Requirements
A pro-democracy group, the Centre for Constitutional Governance and Electoral Integrity (CCGEI), has dismissed attempts to stop Kingsley Chinda, member representing Obio/Akpor federal constituency, from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship process in Rivers state, insisting that the lawmaker complied with all constitutional and party requirements before joining the race.
The group was reacting to a suit filed at the federal high court in Abuja by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), which asked the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Chinda’s participation in the APC governorship primary.
Chinda, an ally of Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), emerged as the sole candidate in the APC governorship primary conducted on May 21 after Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, withdrew from the contest hours before the exercise.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, Ibrahim Danjuma, executive director of CCGEI, described the legal action as “misleading, politically motivated and lacking constitutional substance”.
According to the group, Chinda formally resigned from his leadership position in the house of representatives and ceased performing the functions of minority leader from April 2, 2026, well within the timeframe required under existing electoral guidelines.
“The facts are straightforward and verifiable. Hon. Kingsley Chinda stepped down from his role as minority leader on April 2 and effectively disengaged from the leadership structure of the PDP before participating in the APC governorship process,” the statement reads.
“To suggest otherwise is an attempt to distort both the law and the sequence of events for political advantage.”
The group argued that Chinda’s participation in the APC primary cannot be interpreted as a constitutional violation, noting that the lawmaker acted in accordance with provisions guiding political participation and party realignment.
CCGEI added that the suit appears designed to create unnecessary political tension in Rivers state rather than protect constitutional order.
“This is clearly an effort to weaponise litigation for political ends. Nigerians are aware that internal political realignments ahead of elections are common and must be assessed based on facts, not speculation,” Danjuma said.
The organisation further noted that Chinda neither concealed his political decision nor continued to exercise authority as minority leader after stepping down from the position.
It also maintained that the APC acted within its rights by allowing him to participate in the primary after fulfilling the necessary requirements.
The group urged the judiciary to resist political pressure and focus strictly on constitutional interpretation and documentary evidence before the court.
It added that attempts to invalidate Chinda’s candidacy through technical arguments would undermine democratic participation and the rights of political actors to freely associate and contest elections under the law.