The Parliament Support Network (PSN) has rejected calls for the disqualification of Kingsley Chinda as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State. The group argued that a recent Supreme Court judgment on political party membership registers did not specifically invalidate his nomination. This development comes after the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Chinda following the Supreme Court's ruling.
The Supreme Court had on September 24 restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which deal with political party membership registers and methods for nominating candidates. The judgment arose from litigation involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party and did not specifically determine Chinda's eligibility as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State. ALDRAP had written to INEC on September 26 asking the electoral commission to disqualify Chinda.
The controversy centres partly on the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the period prescribed by the Electoral Act. Chinda emerged as the APC governorship candidate on May 21 after contesting the party's primary as its sole aspirant. The Rivers APC has rejected suggestions that the restored provisions automatically render him ineligible. The party's Publicity Secretary, Ikenga Chibike, said Chinda registered with the APC on April 27, 24 days before the May 21 primary.
PSN said those seeking Chinda's disqualification had not established that the Supreme Court judgment itself automatically invalidated his candidacy. The group argued that any challenge to Chinda's eligibility should be determined on the applicable law and evidence rather than treated as an automatic consequence of the Supreme Court judgment. PSN's National President, Maxwell Idoko, said Nigerians deserve to see the law applied objectively and consistently.
The Rivers APC has stated that Chinda became a member of the party 24 days before the primary, while the applicable requirement is 21 days. That factual position cannot simply be wished away because some interests are demanding his removal from the ballot. PSN also alleged that political interests opposed to Chinda were behind efforts to have him removed from the contest.
The legal dispute over Chinda's nomination is not yet finally determined. ALDRAP's suit remains pending before the Federal High Court, while the precise implications of the restored Electoral Act provisions for Chinda will depend on the evidence concerning his party membership and the membership register submitted to INEC. PSN urged INEC to remain neutral and said parties with legal objections should pursue them through the appropriate judicial process.
The controversy comes months after Chinda was declared winner of the APC governorship primary in Rivers State. He was returned unopposed after other prominent aspirants withdrew from the contest. PSN said political actors and civic organisations should allow INEC and the courts to perform their respective responsibilities without pressure as preparations continue for the 2027 election.
Key points
- The Parliament Support Network rejects calls to disqualify Kingsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State.
- The Supreme Court restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing party membership registers and candidate nominations.
- The legal dispute over Chinda's nomination remains pending before the Federal High Court.
