The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has questioned the eligibility of Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, to contest the 2027 election. This follows a recent Supreme Court judgment emphasizing compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act. The judgment requires political parties to submit their verified register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at least 21 days before conducting their primary elections.
According to the Publicity Secretary of the ADC in Rivers State, Chizi Enyi, the Supreme Court's verdict has nullified Chinda's candidacy. Enyi alleged that only 19 days elapsed between Chinda's registration with the party and the submission of its register to INEC. He claimed that APC conducted its primary election for national assembly aspirants on May 16, while Chinda joined APC on April 27, which is less than the mandatory 21 days' notice.
Enyi further stated that if APC submitted its register after Chinda joined, all the House of Representatives candidates of APC may not be qualified to run in the election. He also mentioned that before Chinda joined, there was a report on April 24 that APC beat the deadline before INEC extended it to May 10. This implies that Chinda joined the party after the register had been submitted to INEC.
The Supreme Court judgment has sparked a legal debate over its implications for several candidates vying for different offices. The ADC's position on Chinda's candidacy has raised concerns about the eligibility of other candidates who may have been nominated under similar circumstances. The judgment is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the 2027 election.
In a related development, the APC has addressed calls for the disqualification of Chinda over the Supreme Court verdict. While the party has not publicly commented on the issue, its supporters have argued that Chinda's candidacy should not be affected by the judgment. The party's position on the matter remains unclear.
The INEC has been urged to comply with the Supreme Court judgment and ensure that all political parties adhere to the Electoral Act. The Commission's compliance with the judgment is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. The 2027 election is expected to be a major test of the Commission's ability to manage the electoral process effectively.
The controversy surrounding Chinda's candidacy has raised questions about the preparedness of political parties for the 2027 election. The Supreme Court judgment has highlighted the need for parties to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act and the INEC's guidelines. The judgment is a reminder that the electoral process must be conducted in accordance with the law.
Key points
- The Supreme Court judgment has nullified the candidacy of Kingsley Ogundu Chinda.
- The ADC has questioned the eligibility of Chinda to contest the 2027 election.
- The INEC has been urged to comply with the Supreme Court judgment.
