The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has adjourned till November 4, 2026, hearing on a suit seeking to disqualify Kingsley Chinda, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State. The suit, instituted by Samuel Amatonjie, challenges Chinda's eligibility to contest the 2027 Rivers State governorship election, citing alleged invalid defection from PDP to APC.
Chinda, currently the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives under PDP, emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State after other aspirants withdrew from the party's governorship primary election. The plaintiff, Amatonjie, seeks a court determination on whether Chinda validly defected from PDP to APC within the contemplation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The suit, filed by way of originating summons, asks the court to interpret Sections 177(c) and 68 of the Constitution to determine Chinda's eligibility. Amatonjie wants the court to declare whether Chinda could be regarded as having validly defected to APC as of May 9, 2026, when he was screened, contested the APC governorship primary, and was declared the party's candidate for the 2027 election.
Amatonjie also seeks a declaration that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is constitutionally bound to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution in determining the eligibility of persons seeking to contest the office of governor. The plaintiff is asking the court to declare that INEC cannot validly recognise, accept or publish Chinda's name as the APC governorship candidate if the court finds that he did not validly defect from PDP to APC.
The suit names Chinda, INEC, PDP, APC, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Clerk to the National Assembly as respondents. The plaintiff is seeking an order declaring null and void any legal recognition allegedly accorded Chinda by INEC as the APC governorship candidate. This development has placed Chinda's eligibility to contest the Rivers State governorship election at the heart of a constitutional dispute.
Justice Muhammed Turaki granted the adjournment after Amatonjie sought time to respond to preliminary objections filed by counsel to some of the respondents. The court's decision to adjourn the hearing till November 4, 2026, has given stakeholders more time to await the court's ruling on the matter.
The outcome of this suit may have implications for Chinda's candidacy and the 2027 Rivers State governorship election. The court's ruling will determine whether Chinda's defection from PDP to APC is valid and whether he is eligible to contest the election. Key parties involved will be watching the court's decision closely.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has adjourned till November 4, 2026, a suit seeking to disqualify Kingsley Chinda, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State.
- The suit challenges Chinda's eligibility to contest the 2027 Rivers State governorship election, citing alleged invalid defection from PDP to APC.
- The court's decision will determine whether Chinda's defection from PDP to APC is valid and whether he is eligible to contest the election.
